MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — Bates opened strong in doubles play but host-Wesleyan University claimed five of six singles matches to hand the Bobcats a 5-2 NESCAC road loss Saturday.
The Bobcats grabbed the early edge with wins at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles.
Philippe Kosyagin and
Theo Sardain handled Harry Collomb (Sr.-Wellesley, Mass.) and Chase Burke (Fy.-Denver, Colo.), 6-2, at the top spot, while
Nicolas Ozer and
James Sacco edged Max Litton (Sr.-Columbia, Mo.) and Brett Keeling (Jr-Tulsa, Okla.) in a tiebreak, 7-6 (8-6), at No. 3.
In singles, the Cardinals (6-7, 4-3 NESCAC) flipped the match with straight-set victories at Nos. 1, 3, and 5. Ryuto Saito (Fy.-Japan) defeated Kosyagin 6-1, 6-4 at No. 1, while Burke topped Sardain 6-0, 6-3 at No. 3. Tommy Jani (Fy.-South Hamilton, Mass.) added a 6-2, 6-4 win over Ozer at No. 5.
Eric Diop pushed Wesleyan's Brett Keeling at No. 2 singles, but Keeling prevailed in a tight match, 7-6, 7-5. At No. 6, Litton outlasted Sacco in three sets, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6, to help secure the team victory.
Bates (4-10, 2-7 NESCAC) picked up its lone singles point at No. 4, where
Rocco Regnier earned a 7-6, 6-3 win over Tai Macdonald (Sr.-San Diego, Calif.).
The garnet and white now heads to Connecticut College Sunday morning for a 9:30 a.m. tilt vs. the Camels in New London, Conn.
