EWING, N.J. – Franklin & Marshall men's tennis continued to face tough competition on Sunday afternoon, dropping a down-to-the-wire 5-4 decision to No. 30 TCNJ.

The Diplomats fell to 5-6 with the defeat, while the Lions improved to 10-3.

By the Numbers

The Diplomats took an early 2-1 lead thanks to a pair of doubles victories. Isaac Salas and Andrew Pace claimed a decisive 8-4 win at No. 3, while Jack Rothman and Inigo Flores earned a close 8-7 (11-9) victory at No. 1.

The score continued to tighten in singles play as the Lions pulled even at 4-4. Flores took a 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 decision at No. 4 and Zack Levin worked to a 6-2, 1-6, 6-0 win at No. 3 to keep the Diplomats in the match.

The match came down to No. 6 singles, where Pace tallied a 7-6 (7-2) win in the second set to force a third. The freshman fought back from a 4-1 deficit in the extra set, but eventually fell 6-0, 6-7 (2-7), 6-4.

The Results

Singles competition

1. Mitchel Sanders (TCNJM) def. Jack Rothman (FMCM) 6-2, 6-2

2. Jack August (TCNJM) def. Isaac Salas (FMCM) 6-1, 6-2

3. Zack Levin (FMCM) def. Omar Bokhari (TCNJM) 6-2, 1-6, 6-0

4. Inigo Flores (FMCM) def. Chris D'Agostino (TCNJM) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2

5. Tim Gavornik (TCNJM) def. Will Samuels (FMCM) 7-5, 6-1

6. Mike Stanley (TCNJM) def. Andrew Pace (FMCM) 6-0, 6-7 (2-7), 6-4

Doubles competition

1. Jack Rothman/Inigo Flores (FMCM) def. Mitchel Sanders/Matt Puig (TCNJM) 8-7 (11-9)

2. Jack August/Thomas Wright (TCNJM) def. Zack Levin/Will Samuels (FMCM) 8-3

3. Isaac Salas/Andrew Pace (FMCM) def. Tim Gavornik/Chris D'Agostino (TCNJM) 8-4

Up Next

F&M returns to Centennial Conference play on Wednesday, hosting Gettysburg at 4;00 p.m.