PORTSMOUTH, Ohio -- The men's tennis program at Shawnee State got strong performances from Daniel Cristobal as well as Santiago Angel Rodriguez Barrera in the latter's home debut with the Bears, but Greg Geremia's squad fell by a 7-0 margin to the Thomas More Saints' men's tennis program Saturday afternoon at Daehler Tennis Courts in Portsmouth.

Cristobal and Rodrigues, who played together at the No. 1 doubles slot, fell in a tight 6-4 defeat to Thomas More's Reggie Bechtel and Magnus Hauska in a well-contested match.

The pair continued showing promise in their singles contests as well, as Cristobal dropped a well-played 6-3, 6-4 match to Thomas More's Raphael Delente at No. 1 singles, while Rodriguez Barrera took Thomas More's Samuel Mimbrero Lendinez to an opening set tiebreaker before falling, 7-6 (5), 6-1 in another competitive outing.

Outside of the efforts from the main duo, the No. 3 doubles squad of Matt Justice and Aidan Gray took three games before falling at the spot to the Thomas More duo at No. 3, Dason Herrington and Steven Chen by a 6-3 margin. Justice also won two games at No. 4 singles against Thomas More's Tammo Kreiser before dropping 6-1, 6-1 contests.

"We are on the uptick in terms of our play against stronger opponents," Geremia, the second-year head coach of the Bears, said. "If we keep trusting the process, our players, my staff and I will turn this program into something to be proud of."

The men's tennis program, along with the women's tennis program, will be back in action next Saturday, October 11, for what will be the final matches of the fall semester for both programs. Both programs will play NCAA Division III member Hanover (Ind.) at 2 p.m. at Daehler Tennis Courts in Portsmouth.

For more information on the Shawnee State men's and women's tennis programs, follow the Bears on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ssu_bears_tennis/.