CONWAY, Ark. -- Only able to secure one singles victory, John Brown University men's tennis suffered its first loss of the season, falling 6-1 at the Hatcher Tennis Center to Dallas Baptist (Texas) on Friday afternoon (Feb. 7).
The Golden Eagles also took a 6-1 setback against host Hendrix (Ark.) later in the evening, falling to 3-2 on the season.
Dallas Baptist took control in doubles play, clinching the opening point with three consecutive wins. Freshman Lucas Machado and junior Jonathan Hillock fell 6-0 at the second doubles slot to Arturo Langle and Matthew Abbey before sophomore Brady Dick and junior Spencer Keeter suffered a 6-1 loss at the top doubles pairing against Fabian Rosales and Ricardo Carvajalino. At the third spot, junior Hayes Stark and sophomore Andrew Aylor put up a strong fight but ultimately dropped a 6-3 decision to Kell Castleberry and Arturo Beitman.
The Patriots carried their momentum into singles play and clinched the match at the fourth flight, where Rosales posted a 6-2, 6-2 win over Stark. Dallas Baptist earned its second singles point at the top singles spot, where Abbey defeated Dick 6-0, 6-1. Langle followed with a 6-1, 6-1 victory at the third slot over Machado before Rosales' win sealed the match.
John Brown avoided the sweep at the second flight, where Keeter battled to a 7-5, 6-4 win over Carvajalino. At the fifth slot, Hillock fell 6-3, 6-3 to Zach Capone, while Aylor rounded out the lineup with a 6-1, 6-2 loss to Beitman at the sixth position.
Against the Warriors, Hendrix set the tone early by sweeping doubles to claim the opening point. At the top spot, Dick and Keeter fell 6-1 to Agustin Kalinowski and Cason Cole. The Warriors doubled their advantage at the second slot as Machado and Hillock dropped a 6-2 decision to Wesley McClure and Carlos Solis. Hendrix completed the sweep at the third position, where Stark and sophomore Andrew Aylor fell 6-2 to Robinson Wright and Maximilian Henderson.
The Warriors captured the match win at the fifth flight, where Hillock suffered a 6-4, 6-4 loss to Matias Ancieta. Hendrix added its second singles point at the top position, as McClure defeated Dick 6-0, 6-1. Kalinowski extended the lead at the second slot with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Keeter before Ancieta's win sealed the match.
Machado provided the Golden Eagles' lone highlight of the evening at the third flight, outlasting Henderson despite dropping an opening 7-4 tiebreak. Machado stormed back to take the next two sets, earning a 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4 victory at the third flight. At the fourth position, Stark fell 6-4, 6-2 to Santiago Perez, while freshman William Prochazka pushed Solis to a tiebreak in both sets at the sixth slot but ultimately fell 7-6, 7-6 in his first collegiate action.
John Brown will look to end the weekend in the win column when the Golden Eagles take on Ozarks (Ark.) for the second time this season at 5 p.m. at the Hatcher Tennis Center.
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