HILTON HEAD, S.C.—Junior Zach Hall (Sugar Land, Texas) fought off two first-set points, rallying to beat regionally ranked Brandon Larsen (Woodbridge, Va.) in straight sets and giving Gordon a 5-4 win over Bridgewater College (Va.). The Fighting Scots took two of the three doubles matches and split the singles competition to pull out the gutty victory.
 
The Eagles fall to 1-2 on the season, while Gordon improves to 4-0 for the first time since Peter Amadon took over the program in 2006.
 
Bridgewater took the first point of the match with Larsen and Thomas Rishcoff (Richmond, Va.) teaming up to hand Michael D'Antuono (Mapleville, R.I.) and Peter Godwin (Manchester, Conn.) their first loss of the spring season, 8-2. Gordon countered with an 8-3 victory at third doubles from Joe Daugherty (Norfolk, Va.) and James Hawn (Southborough, Mass.). Gordon's third duo trailed early in the match, but won seven of the final eight games, including five in a row to win it.
 
Hall and Mason Casady (Santa Barbara, Calif.) also rallied from an early hole to hand Kyle Hartfield (Marietta, Ga.) and Christian Lynn (St. Charles, Ill.) an 8-3 loss.
 
The second doubles point proved to be huge for the Fighting Scots. Godwin made quick work of Cameron Rhoney (Powhatan, Va.) at fifth singles, 6-0, 6-1, to put Gordon up two points. The Eagles came right back with Rishcoff at fourth singles, who only dropped two games against Hawn.
 
Daugherty brought Gordon to the brink of victory with a 6-2, 6-1 triumph over Kris Stokes (Charlotte, N.C.) at the sixth flight.
 
The final three matches had the feel of going either way, but Hall clinched victory for Gordon to leave no doubt with two matches still on the courts. Hall fell behind Atlantic regionally ranked Larsen in the first set and fought off two set points for the Bridgewater senior to tie the set at five games. The Gordon junior won the final eight games after that point to secure the Scots' fourth consecutive win to start the season.
 
The Fighting Scots have an off day on Wednesday before returning to action on Thursday at 8 a.m. against Westminster (Pa.). 
 

Singles competition

1. Zach Hall (GC) def. Brandon Larsen (BCM) 7-5, 6-0

2. Kyle Hartfield (BCM) def. Mason Casady (GC) 6-1, 6-4

3. Christian Lynn (BCM) def. Michael D'Antuono (GC) 6-1, 6-3

4. Thomas Rishcoff (BCM) def. James Hawn (GC) 6-0, 6-2

5. Peter Godwin (GC) def. Cameron Rhoney (BCM) 6-0, 6-1

6. Joe Daugherty (GC) def. Kris Stokes (BCM) 6-2, 6-1

 

Doubles competition

1. Zach Hall/Mason Casady (GC) def. Kyle Hartfield/Christian Lynn (BCM) 8-3

2. Brandon Larsen/Thomas Rishcoff (BCM) def. Michael D'Antuono/Peter Godwin (GC) 8-2

3. James Hawn/Joe Daugherty (GC) def. Aaron Snook/Cameron Rhoney (BCM) 8-3

 

Match Notes

Gordon College 4-0

Bridgewater College 1-2

Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (5,4,6,1,2,3)

T-3:25 A-40