COLUMBIA, S.C.  —   Sophomore Scott Gagne of Lewiston earned a pair of wins as the University of Southern Maine Huskies fell to Division II Benedict College Tigers 6-3 in men’s tennis match Thursday afternoon in Columbia, South Carolina.
With their second consecutive win, the Tigers improved to 2-2 on the season.  Suffering its second consecutive loss, Southern Maine dips to 0-2.
The Tigers won two out of the three doubles points and five out of the six singles points to earn the win.  USM’s Gagne and freshman Eric Berry-Sandelin earned the Huskies lone doubles point with an 8-4 win at third doubles.
In singles action, Tiger sophomore  Zibusiso Ndimande earned a 6-4, 6-2 win over USM sophomore Thaddeus St. John of Weld 6-4, 6-2 to pace Benedict.  Gagne again scored for the Huskies, earning a win at fourth singles with a hard-won 7-5, 6-2 victory over Benedict junior Giovanni Plater  Junior Corey Dyke of Monmouth also earned his first victory of the season with a 6-0, 6-0 win at sixth singles over Tiger senior Darreus Wheeler.
Southern Maine returns to action on March 20  when it travels to Thomas College in Waterville.