Box Score IRVINE, Calif. – The UC Irvine men's tennis team battled to its fifth-straight win with a 6-1 decision over Gonzaga, Thursday afternoon at Anteater Tennis Complex.

The 'Eaters cruised through doubles play before battling in singles as four of six matches went into three sets. UCI won five of six singles matches to seal the victory and improves to 8-7 on the season. The Zags fall to 6-4 overall.

Vatsal Bajpai and Bruce Man-Son-Hing downed Emilio Moreno/Simon Hemedes, 6-1, at No. 2. Luca Marquard and Luis Lopez rallied after going down two breaks, 3-0, to come back and earn a 6-4 decision over Ruadhan O'Sullivan/Matthew Perkins at No. 3 to clinch the point.

The Anteaters kept the momentum in singles play with four straight wins. At No. 5, Bajpai dropped the first set, 1-6, but rallied to win sets two and three, 6-2, 6-4, to grab the victory. Mason Hansen also earned a three-set victory on court six. He took set one, 6-2, before dropping the second, 0-6, and came back to win it with a 6-4 decision in the third.

"Vatsal showed great maturity and grit in his singles," said head coach Mike Saunders. "After losing the first quickly, he stayed composed, problem-solved and made some smart adjustments to turn the match around. He showed a lot of guts in the third on the must have points."

Marquard and Daniel Gealer earned straight-set victories at Nos. three and four, respectively.

"Mason was also mentally tough today. After losing the second set, 6-0, and going down an early break in the third, he was a rock mentally, stayed positive and raised his level," added Saunders.

Lopez battled at the top spot, ultimately dropping a 6-2, 2-6, 4-6, decision to O'Sullivan.

Krasnov concluded the day with a three-set, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, victory at No. 2 over Vincent Rettke.

"We didn't play our best today but the guys have grown mentally," said Saunders. "We are much tougher emotionally and smarter tactically than we were a month ago."

UCI returns to action tomorrow when it hosts a doubleheader at Anteater Tennis Complex. The Anteaters play Yale at 9 a.m. followed by Liberty at 2 p.m.

UC Irvine 6, Gonzaga 1

 Singles
1. Ruadhan O'Sullivan (GON) def. Luis Lopez (UCI) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4
2. Sasha Krasnov (UCI) def. Vincent Rettke (GON) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
3. Luca Marquard (UCI) def. Emilio Moreno (GON) 6-3, 7-5
4. Daniel Gealer (UCI) def.  Kyle Everly (GON) 6-4, 6-2
5. Vatsal Bajpai (UCI) def. Simon Homedes Dualde (GON) 1-6, 6-2, 6-4
6. Mason Hansen (UCI) def. Matthew Perkins (GON) 6-2, 0-6, 6-4

Doubles 
1. Vincent Rettke/Kyle Everly (GON) def. Daniel Gealer/Mason Hansen (UCI) 6-1
2. Vatsal Bajpai/Bruce Man-Son-Hing (UCI) def. Simon Homedes Dualde/Emilio Moreno (GON)
3. Luca Marquard/Luis Lopez (UCI) def. Ruadhan O'Sullivan/Matthew Perkins (GON) 6-4