MISHAWAKA, Ind. --- In a hot September day and packed stands, the Bethel Pilots (1-1) got a big Crossroads League win over the Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats (0-2) in a 4-3 thriller at Ward Baker Park on Thursday.

The Wildcats won the doubles point from one doubles in a close fight 6-4 and three doubles 6-3, but Santiago Flores and Nicolo Marchetti won two doubles to set up the deciding match in three doubles.

Victor Bonsergent won 6-2, 6-1 in one singles against IWU's Illyas Kouchairi, meanwhile, Daniel Jancic took the three singles point 6-1, 6-3. Nicolo Marchetti took the third singles point for the Pilots in four singles 1-6,6-1, 6-4 over Timo Fischer and Martin Gaviria took the fourth and final singles point in six singles over Isaiah Hostetler 7-5, 6-0.

The Pilots defeated the Wildcats for the first time since 2007 and last scored in 2016, before then Bethel scored two points in 2011 and three in 2010.


"This was not the prettiest win by far, but as I've told the guys before, sometimes you win ugly, and this was one of those wins.  IWU is a gritty team, and they showed their grit today.  After losing the doubles point, our guys stepped up the intensity.  Victor (Bonsergent) and Daniel (Jancic) both played about as well as I could have hoped and helped us change the course of the match," said head coach Jamal Henry.


NEXT TIME OUT

The Pilots take on the Goshen Maple Leafs in Goshen, Ind. on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 11 a.m. The Maple Leafs go into the match up with a 6-1 win over Spring Arbor at home.


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