MARSHALL, Texas – McMurry University Men's Tennis came up just short in its season opener Friday afternoon, falling 5-4 on the road to East Texas Baptist.

The War Hawks (0-1) fell behind 4-2 in singles play, but senior Carlos Martinez and junior Joseph Diaz brought McMurry back into a 4-4 tie. However, the Tigers took the number six singles match to spoil the McM comeback.

Martinez won a three-set match at number one singles, taking sets two and three by identical 6-1 scores after falling in the first set, 6-3. Diaz evened the match with a 6-4, 6-4 win a number five singles.

The teams would split the singles matches, 3-3, as freshman Reid Smith was the other victor for McM at number four singles. Smith dropped the first set, 7-5, but bounced back with a convincing 6-0 set two win. He claimed his first collegiate win with a 6-4 score in set three.

Two doubles matches came down to the wire, but McM was only able to win one of those matches.

At number one doubles, Martinez and sophomore Chase Daniell squeaked out an 8-7 (7-4) win, bringing the match to 1-1. At number two doubles, senior Zach Miller and freshman Brynson Harmon also went into a tiebreak, but fell 8-7 (7-2).

The War Hawks will look for their first win of 2020 Saturday at 9 a.m. as they visit LeTourneau.