NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - In the spring season opener for the Bridgewater College men's tennis team, the Eagles held close to the host Captains but fell by an 8-1 tally on the road at regionally-ranked Christopher Newport University.

Christopher Newport entered the afternoon ranked tenth in the ITA regional rankings.

In doubles play, Christopher Newport swept the three matches, but the Eagles stayed close at No. 2 and No. 3

The tandem of Brandon Larsen and Evan Stack fell by an 8-2 tally at number one before the duo of Christian Lynn and Peter Hawkins dropped an 8-5 decision at number two.

In the final doubles match at number three, senior Brent Floyd teamed up with freshman Mike Cable to drop a hard-fought 8-6 decision.

Hawkins fell at number one singles by a tight 6-3, 7-5 score before Larsen fell 6-0, 6-2 at number two to the 15th-ranked player in the region, Gianandrea Heyer.

Floyd posted Bridgewater's lone win of the afternoon by notching a 6-3, 7-5 victory at number three.

Stack dropped a three-set set affair at number four. The freshman won the first set, 6-2, before falling 6-4 in the second set to force the tiebreaker. Stack dropped a tight 11-9 decision in the superbreaker to fall in the match.

Lynn followed Stack's tight matchup with one of his own in a loss at number five singles. The freshman dropped the first set by a 6-4 tally before recovering for an identical 6-4 victory to force a third set. In similar fashion to that of Stack, Lynn dropped an 11-9 set in the superbreaker to drop the three-set thriller.

Sophomore Sam Churchill fell by a tight 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) tally at number six singles to wrap up the match.

Bridgewater is back in action on March 3 when the Eagles head on the road for a showdown with N.C. Wesleyan. Action is set for a 1 p.m. Start.