PORTLAND, Ore. — Competing for the second consecutive day, the Linfield Wildcats dropped an 8-1 nonconference decision to the Caltech Beavers at the Lewis & Clark Tennis Dome Sunday.
 
"We need to consistently execute and learn how to create momentum against good teams, which Caltech is," said Linfield coach Ben Belletto. "We have flashes of playing the way we need to to be successful. It's a process and we're making strides. In singles, were similarly making progress but still learning how to make the game easier."
 
Singles
The lone team point earned by Linfield came at No. 2 where Luis Rojas outlasted Caltech's Derik Nguyen 6-4, 6-4.
 
Nathan Saragoza played Varn Shanker close in top-flight singles, but ultimately fell 6-2, 7-6 (12-10). At No. 3 singles, Zixiao Li defeated Linfield's J.T. Barcellos 6-0, 6-3, and Caltech's James Wei beat Ben McNair 6-1, 6-0 at No. 4.
 
Jacob Mangan fell to Kevin Yu 6-1, 6-1 at No. 5. At No. 6 singles, Andre Lin eased past Eric Rutherford 6-3, 6-3.
Despite dropping all but one match, several Wildcats received praise from Belletto.
 
"Luis played a good, consistent match," Belletto said. "Nathan looked very good today, and is improving every time out there. He climbed out of an early 0-3 hole in the first set, but that energy took its toll. In the second set, he did a great job mentally. There were a few set points they slipped away, but it was a great experience that will help next time."
 
 
Doubles
The closest matchup was at No. 2, where Rojas and Rutherford narrowly fell to Nguyen and Li, 8-6.
 
At No. 1, Wei and Shanker teamed up to knock off McNair and Saragoza, 8-2. Connor Soohoo and Yu downed Mangan and Barcellos 8-4 at No. 3.
 
Next
Linfield hosts Hardin-Simmons Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Linfield Tennis Center. Sunday, the Wildcats play Northern Colorado at Holce Tennis Courts in Forest Grove. Start time is set for 3 p.m.