Box Score MORAGA, Calif. – The Saint Mary's Gaels edged the Portland Pilots by a 4-3 margin in West Coast Conference men's tennis action Friday afternoon at the Korth Tennis Complex. The Gaels improve to 5-14 overall and 3-5 in the WCC, while the Pilots fall to 7-12 and 2-5 in league.

Portland trailed 3-2 with singles matches at No. 3 and No. 5 still up for grabs. Pilot freshman Issa Yoshida pulled out a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory at the No. 5 spot to tie the match.

Abhishek Bastola then posted a come-from-behind 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 win against Portland sophomore Tom Hann to provide the clinching point.

The Pilots took the doubles point with 6-4 wins by freshmen Sema Pankin and Eleftherios Neos at No. 1 and Yoshida and fellow freshman Leo Hibi at No. 3 doubles.

Neos gave Portland its second point with a 6-4, 6-3 win against David Abfalter at No. 4 singles. Oberg dropped a three-setter to James Watt at No. 2 singles, while the Gaels posted straight set wins at No. 1 and No. 6.

"That was a heartbreaker," Portland head coach Aaron Gross said. "We haven't lost that close of a match in a long time. We were actually up 5-3 in third set in the deciding match at about the same time that Issa came from behind to tie it. We played some good doubles and Lefty took care of business. Tom fought his heart out to put us in a position to win. There was a couple of areas that I wish we could have had back, but those are the breaks."

Portland continues the weekend road trip with a Sunday match at Pacific with a noon start.

Saint Mary's 4, Portland 3
Moraga, Calif. (Korth Tennis Complex)
April 12, 2019

Singles
1. Damon Kesaris (SMC) def. Sema Pankin (POR) 6-3, 7-5
2. James Watt (SMC) def. Nicklas Oberg (POR) 6-0, 2-6, 6-2
3. Abhishek Bastola (SMC) def. Tom Hann (POR) 2-6, 6-2, 7-5
4. Eleftherios Neos (POR) def. David Abfalter (SMC) 6-4, 6-3
5. Issa Yoshida (POR) def. Matis Bot (SMC) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
6. Daniel Krutik (SMC) def. Leo Hibi (POR) 6-4, 7-5

Doubles
1. Sema Pankin/Eleftherios Neos (POR) def. Boris Reckow/James Watt (SMC) 6-4
2. Damon Kesaris/Matis Bot (SMC) def. Nicklas Oberg/Tom Hann (POR) 6-3
3. Issa Yoshida/Leo Hibi (POR) def. David Abfalter/Daniel Krutik (SMC) 6-4

Match Notes:
Portland 7-12, 2-5 WCC
Saint Mary's 5-14, 3-5 WCC
Order of Finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (4,2,1,6,5,3)