ROCKFORD, Ill. - Ball State (11-4, 1-0 MAC) won the clinching singles match in three sets to edge Binghamton men's tennis (3-12, 0-2 MAC) 4-3 Saturday afternoon at the neutral site Boylan Tennis Center at Northern Illinois.

The Bearcats grabbed the doubles point with wins at Nos. 1 and 2 and then earned three-set wins at second and third singles. Junior No. 2 Ludovico Cestarollo dropped his opening set before roaring back for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 win. Sophomore No. 2 Kushaan Nath prevailed in a tight 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 match for his team-best eighth dual win of the season. 

But the Cardinals won a pair of three-setters at Nos. 4 and 5 singles and notched two other wins to claim the match.

"This was a tough one to take," head coach Nick Zieziula said. "We played our best doubles all year ... dominated completely at number one and two and again we took three first sets in singles. The guys poured their hearts into the match but we came up just short in a hard-fought match. We're learning and improving match to match despite the results. The team continues to come together, so we feel we can make use of the next three weeks to prepare for our next conference match."

Binghamton next plays at Penn next Sunday.

Ball State 4, Binghamton 3
DOUBLES 
1. Kushaan Nath/Tago Lourenco (BING) def. Nemanja Guzina/Collin Rigney (BALLST) 6-2
2. Alejandro Pena/Inigo Saez (BING) def. Marko Guzina/Conner Andersen (BALLST) 6-2
3. Chris Adams/Tom Carney (BALLST) led Ludovico Cestarollo/Sebastian Quiros (BING) 5-2, unfinished

Order of Finish: 2,1

SINGLES
1. Nemanja Guzina (BALLST) def. Tiago Lourenco (BING) 7-6, 6-3
2. Ludovico Cestarollo (BING) def. Marko Guzina (BALLST) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
3. Kushaan Nath (BING) def. Thibault De Negri (BALLST) 6-2, 5-7, 6-4
4. Conner Andersen (BALLST) def. Sebastian Quiros (BING) 2-6, 6-4, 6-0
5. Chris Adams (BALLST) def. Inigo Saez (BING) 6-0, 6-7, 6-2
6. Bryce Bonin (BALLST) def. Alejandro Pena (BING) 6-3, 6-1

Order of Finish: 6,2,1,4,3,5