BAKERSFIELD, Calif. ? Down 19-12 through the opening six matches, CSUB battled back to win the final four bouts in a 30-19 victory over Cal State Fullerton in Pac-10 wrestling action Sunday in the Icardo Center.
The dual was thrilling from start to finish as five matches were decided by fall, including the opening three.
At 133, the Roadrunners' Thomas Kimbrell scored an early takedown against No. 13 nationally ranked T.J. Dillashaw, but the Titan senior responded with a fall victory at 1:46 to claim the six-point win.
At 141, Elijah Nacita returned the favor and tied the team score at 6-6 with a pin of Fullerton's Adin Duenas just 1:27 into the match. Nacita improved to 29-11 on the season, while the fall was his seventh of the year.
The Titans' Teddy Astorga earned a fall victory over Anthony Box at 149 and Steven DeLaFuente claimed a 15-5 major decision over Sam Barnhart at 157 to increase Fullerton's lead to 16-6. CSUB's Joey Granata improved to 14-0 in matches decided by fall, pinning Brian Stills in 1:13, but Todd Noel's 7-4 decision over Ernesto Ancona at 174 put the Titans up 19-12.
From there it was all Bakersfield, however, as Riley Orozco got the comeback rolling with an 8-2 decision over Tim Hawkins at 184. No. 7 nationally ranked Brandon Halsey followed with a six-point fall of John Drake at 197, No. 6 Mitch Monteiro used a last second takedown and riding time advantage to take a 10-2 major decision over Kurt Klemik at heavyweight and No. 16 Brandon Zoetewey wrapped up the dual with a 15-0 technical fall of Andre Gonzalez at 125.
The Roadrunners completed Pac-10 dual action with a 7-2 record, while also improving to 9-5 overall. CSUB hosts San Francisco State Feb. 15 at 2 p.m. in its final dual of the season.
CSU Bakersfield 30, Cal State Fullerton 19
133: No. 13 T.J. Dillashaw (CSUF) fall Thomas Kimbrell, 1:46
141: Elijah Nacita (CSUB) fall Adin Duenas, 1:27
149: Teddy Astorga (CSUF) fall Anthony Box, 1:22
157: Steven DeLaFuente (CSUF) maj. dec. Sam Barnhart, 15-5
165: Joey Granata (CSUB) fall Brian Stills, 1:13
174: Todd Noel (CSUF) dec. Ernesto Ancona, 7-4
184: Riley Orozco (CSUB) dec. Tim Hawkins, 8-2
197: No. 7 Brandon Halsey (CSUB) fall John Drake, 1:51
HWT: No. 6 Mitch Monteiro (CSUB) maj. dec. Kurt Klemik, 10-2
125: No. 16 Brandon Zoetewey (CSUB) tech. fall Andre Gonzalez, 15-0
Exhibition Match:
174: Troy Goodban (CSUB) fall Richard Orewyler, 2:29
