MALDEN, Mass. -- The Bates men's rowing team advanced to next weekend's NESCAC Championships on Sunday by placing second in the NESCAC East qualifiers, setting up their chance for a fourth consecutive conference title.

The Bates men's varsity eight (MV8) outraced Colby in its preliminary heat, 6:14.3 to 6:21.5. The Bobcats advanced to the final and faced Tufts, who had cruised in its heat to a 6:57 to 7:25 victory over Connecticut College. In the MV8 final, the host Jumbos edged the Bobcats by 2.5 seconds, 6:12.8 to 6:15.3.

Second varsity eight (M2V8) races were run in a round-robin format with Connecticut College not fielding a boat. The Bates M2V8 went undefeated against both Tufts (6:38.8 to 6:44.4) and Colby (6:36.2 to 6:57.4).

The Bobcats will compete against Tufts, Trinity and Williams in the NESCAC Championship next Sunday, May 9, back on the Malden River. Bates will be vying for its fourth straight NESCAC title and its fifth overall.

Bates MV8 lineup: Bow: Thomas Monahan;  2: Jasper Tucker; 3: Maxwell Cavallaro; 4: Timothy Bates; 5: Kevin Downing; 6: Steven Sparks; 7: Robert Sobolewski; Stroke: Espen Wheeler; c: Kevin Murphy 

Bates M2V8 lineup: Bow: Benjamin MacDonald; 2: Xavier Fallone; 3: William Corcoran 4: Alexander Burbelo; 5: Connor Sahs; 6: Isaac Levinger; 7: Charlie Berman; Stroke: Jack Fruechte; c: Aidan Temperino