BAKERSFIELD, Calif.--North Dakota State (3-4) overcame an early Bakersfield (2-5) advantage as the Bison defeated the Roadrunners 27-12 in wrestling action Monday night in the Icardo Center.
The dual began at 125 pounds where NDSU's Hunter Weber pinned Matt Correa (R-Jr., Santa Maria, Calif., Cuesta College) at the 4:17 mark. Jose Mendoza (R-Sr., Selma, Calif., Selma HS) got the 'Runners on the board when he defeated Justin LaValle 9-4 in the 133-pound bout.
Ian Nickell (R-So., Bakersfield, Calif., Bakersfield HS) tied the score when he handed Clayton Cathey a 7-4 defeat at 141 pounds. Dalton Kelly (R-Sr., Alamosa, Colo., Alamosa HS) used an a two-point escape on Tyler Diamond to send the 149-pound match to overtime where Kelley took down Diamond for a 9-7 victory.
Spencer Hill (R-Jr., Clovis, Calif., Fresno City College) increased the lead to 12-6 when he defeated Nick Olejnik 3-1 at 157 pounds. The Bison broke the 'Runners winning streak at 165 pounds when No. 4 Steven Monk defeated David Meza (R-So., Fullerton, Calif., Buena Park HS) 8-2 to cut the lead to three. No. 16 Hayden Zillmer earned a technical fall over Jesus Ambriz (R-So., Vista, Calif., Rancho Buena Vista HS) (at 6:23) to give the Bison the lead for what proved to be for good.
Kurtis Julson earned a major decision victory (13-4) in the 184-pound bout against Sean Pollock (R-Jr., Oceanside, Calif., Rancho Buena Vista HS). Tyler Lehmann pinned Reuben Franklin (Jr. Murrieta, Calif., Vista Murrieta HS) 44-seconds into the 197-pound match. Evan Knutson used a riding time advantage to defeat Sammy Cervantes (R-Sr., Chula Vista, Calif., Palomar College) 2-1 at heavyweight to conclude the night.
"The guys who won gutted it out in the end to win it," said Bakersfield head coach Mike Mendoza. "Jesus moved up to 174 and did what he could. We gave up some major points at the upper weights and that proved to be the difference."
The Roadrunners return to Pac-12 action Friday night when Bakersfield hosts Boise State at 6:30 p.m.
~www.GoRunners.com~
North Dakota State (NDSU) 27, Bakersfield (B) 12
125 Hunter Weber, NDSU, pinned Matt Correa, B, 4:17 133 Jose Mendoza, B, dec. Justin LaValle, NDSU, 9-4 141 Ian Nickell, B, dec. Clayton Cathey, NDSU, 7-4 149 Dalton Kelly B sv-1 Tyler Diamond (NDSU) 9-7 157 Spencer Hill, B, dec. Nick Olejnik, NDSU, 3-1 165 Steven Monk, NDSU, dec. david Meza, B, 8-2 174 Hayden Zillmer, NDSU, tech. fall Jesus Ambriz, B, 6:21 17-0 184 Kurtis Julson, NDSU, maj. dec. Sean Pollock, B, 13-4 197 Tyler Lehmann, NDSU, pinned Ruben Franklin, B, 0:44 285 Evan Knutson, NDSU, dec. Sam Cervantes, B, 2-1
