Salem State defeated Suffolk University, 5-4  at Rockett Arena on Tuesday afternoon. Salem State improves to 3-8, while Suffolk slides to 3-1.

Suffolk earned two points in doubles play to take a 2-1 lead going into singles play. Matt Mogren (Newburyport, MA) and John Didonato (Newbury, MA) were defeated at No. 1 doubles by Marc Winkler (Caracas, Venezuela) and Calixto Romero (Lima, Peru), 8-2, while Alonso Vela (Chelsea, Mass.) and  Francesco Saia (Wakefield, Mass.) beat David Dluznieski (Auburn, Mass.) and Conner Erickson (Hubbardston, Mass.), 8-6 at No.2 doubles. Kevin Lam (Salem, MA) and Luke Hodgkins (Winthrop, MA) kept the Vikings in it with an 8-1 win at third doubles.

The Vikings rallied to take four-of-six singles matches to earn the victory. Mogren won at first singles, 6-2, 6-4 over Romero while Winkler earned a point at second singles for the Rams with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Didonato. Erickson won at third singles, 6-1, 6-2 before Saia earned a hard fought victory at fourth singles, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 over  Dluznieski. Nadal and Hodgkins clinched the win for the Vikings with straight set wins at No. 5 and No. six singles respectively.

Salem State travels to Southern Maine for a 3:30 match next Tuesday. Suffolk host Bridgewater State this Thursday at 7:00 PM.

(Story courtesy of Salem State Sports Information)