AZUSA, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific dug itself a hole, but eventually climbed out and posted a 6-3 non-conference win over NCAA Division III-power Redlands Saturday to remain unbeaten this season.

The Cougars fell behind 2-1 after doubles’ play, a first this season. Adam Davidson and David Goodman picked up the Cougars’ lone point at No. 3 doubles. Meanwhile, at No. 2, the Redlands duo of Aaron Elling and Ashwin Bhargava staved off 4 match points to eventually get a 9-7 win over the Cougars’ Boris Bakalov and Tom Jelsma.

However, Azusa Pacific rallied and nearly swept through singles play, taking 5 of the 6 matches to recover in time for the win.

“We came out pretty flat today,” said Azusa Pacific head coach Mark Bohren. “I don’t know if it’s because we were tired from Wednesday’s match (vs. UC San Diego), but we started playing better during singles.”

With the win, Azusa Pacific improves to 4-0 on the season. Redlands, which has won 53 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) and 15 national titles, falls to 1-2.

Singles
1 – Sam Fletcher (APU) def. Brian Murphy (UR) 6-1, 6-3
2 – Boris Bakalov (APU) def. Michael Thoerest (UR) 7-5, 6-2
3 – Andrew Elling (UR) def. David Goodman (APU) 6-1, 2-6, 6-4
4 – Adam Davidson (APU) def. Robert Vincent (UR) 6-3, 6-2
5 – Gordon Hong (APU) def. Ashwin Bhargava (UR) 6-2, 6-2
6 – Tom Jelsma (APU) def. Ian Bradburn (UR) 6-4, 6-1

Doubles
1 – Murphy/Thoerest def. Fletcher/Hong 8-6
2 – Elling/Bhargava def. Bakalov/Jelsma 9-7
3 – Davidson/Goodman def. Vincent/Sean Dolan 8-5