VANCOUVER, Wash. – The Linfield men’s tennis club suffered its third-straight defeat, dropping a close 5-4 contest against Pacific Friday night at Club Green Meadows.

The Boxers improve to 3-2 in the Northwest Conference and 4-2 overall as the Wildcats slip to 2-3 in league action and 2-3 overall.

Pacific started out the match with a pair of wins in the top two doubles flights. Spencer Hing and Troy Zuroske defeated Mark Magdaong and Brent Kingzett 8-6. No. 2 partners Michael Okada and Scott Kawamura beat Cody Levien and Zachery Lyons (Sr., Vancouver, Wash.) 8-6.

Linfield’s Tal DeWitt and Tim Wagar were able to secure the third doubles match for the visitors with a narrow win over Alen Suklje and Patrick Kinghorn 9-7.

This is the third straight match in which the ‘Cats have fallen behind early in doubles, something the club needs to improve upon.

“We can create our own good fortune with better doubles, so the challenge now is to work hard and get it right,” said head coach Carl Swanson.

Needing just three victories in singles action to win the meet, the Boxers did just that, taking the No. 2, No. 5 and No. 6 flights.

Zuroske dominated Levien 6-1, 6-1. At the No. 5 slot, Suklje defeated Lyons 6-0, 6-4. Wagar battled hard in the final match of the night, but fell to Furuya 6-3, 4-6, 6-1.

Picking up wins for the ‘Cats in singles play were Magdaong, DeWitt and Kingzett. No. 1 Magdaong beat Hing 6-2, 6-4. DeWitt earned a victory over Okada 6-4, 6-1 and Kingzett defeated Derek Cooley 7-5, 6-2.

As the only Linfield player to win in both singles and doubles, DeWitt drew praise from his coach.

“Tal had a standout performance today and played with a lot of positive energy,” Swanson said.

NEXT: Linfield looks to bounce back against Willamette in a noon match Saturday in Salem.