POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- In a contest that went down to the final match of the day, Bates College, ultimately, found itself on the wrong end of a 5-4 decision Wednesday at #35 Vassar College in men's tennis non-conference play. 

The afternoon opened with the Bobcats' top doubles duo, Alexander Gujarathi and Theo Sardain, coasting to an 8-2 win over the Brewers' Nolan Kubiak and Ethan Mantell in the No. 1 slot. 

At No 2, Fernando Bauermeister and Henry Zhang outlasted Matthew Danielson and Nicky Desai, 8-7 (7-1), in a back and forth victory for the Vassar tandem. Pedro Cattaruzzi and Eugene Lee followed that performance with an 8-3 defeat of Bates' Ben Adey and Evangelo Kapothanasis at No. 3 to head into singles action with a 2-1 advantage.

The Bobcats played outstanding tennis in one-on-one competition, earning triumphs in the first three singles contests.

Gujarathi (6-4, 6-4 vs. Jay Wong) and Danielson (6-1, 6-1 vs. Bauermeister) enjoyed straight-set wins at No.1 and No. 2, respectively. Sardain needed three sets at No. 3 (7-5, 6-7 (0-7), 6-1) to turn away Lee for the victory, providing Bates an overall lead of 4-2 in in the match.

The Brewers came up clutch at positions No. 4-6  as Benjamin Almquist (6-0, 6-1 vs. Desai), Mantell (6-4, 6-0 vs. Eli Criss), and Zhang (6-1, 6-4 vs. Adey) conquered with straight-set performances to put Vassar at 6-2 on the season.

Bates (2-6) now returns to NESCAC action with a visit to Connecticut College Friday at 2:00 p.m.