BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—CSU Bakersfield wrestlers earned bonus points in five of seven victories Sunday night as the Roadrunners defeated Grand Canyon 28-9.

“Our guys wrestled hard and focused on scoring,” said CSUB head coach Mike Mendoza. “We've been focusing on wrestling well in the third period and some of our guys did well and some others need to work on getting better.”

The dual began at 125 pounds. In one of the highest scoring matches of the season for the Roadrunners, Sergio Mendez defeated Trayton Libolt by major decision 23-12. 133-pounders Carlos Herrera of CSUB and Jauquin Olivas of GCU needed six overtimes before Herrera used an escape to earn a 7-6 decision.

“Carlos' opponent was tough defensively,” Mendoza said. “Carlos kept doing what he needed to do to get a good win.”

Ian Nickell picked up a major at 141 pounds when he defeated Uzo Owuama 9-1. Coleman Hammond recorded a technical fall with 20 seconds to go in the first period when he defeated Joe Huber 18-1 at 149 pounds.

AJ Fierro earned a major again for the 'Runners when he posted a 19-6 decision in the 157-pound bout with Steven Abayon. Redshirt freshman Sean O'Rourke made his first start for the Roadrunners in place of Adam Fierro at 165 pounds. O'Rourke defeated Casey Larson by a 4-1 count.

Grand Canyon broke a 21-match CSUB winning streak (which dated back to the 2013-14 season) in the all-time series when Kenny Moore defeated Jesus Ambriz 14-9 at 174 pounds.  Austin Gaun overcame an early 6-0 deficit to defeat Dylan Bollinger 10-6 at 184.

No. 8 Reuben Franklin pinned Austin Trujillo at the 4:08 mark of the 197-pound match for the Roadrunners. Franklin's sixth pin of the year helped him improve to 26-5. Franklin has won 19 of his matches by major decision, tech fall, or pin this season.

“It seems like Reuben is bringing his performances to another level,” Mendoza said. “He wrestles the way we want all of our guys to wrestle. He is the best example of going hard from the first whistle to the end that we have.”

In the final bout of the evening, Daniel Chaid defeated Matt Williams 7-3 at heavyweight.

CSUB is now 9-3, winning its ninth dual in a single year for the first time since the 2008-09 season when the Roadrunners went 10-5. CSUB hosts No. 20 Oregon State next Saturday at Bakersfield's Centennial High School at 5 p.m. Tickets are available at Vallitix.com.

~www.GoRunners.com~

CSU Bakersfield (CSUB) 28, Grand Canyon (GCU) 9

125         Sergio Mendez (CSUB) def. Trayton Libolt, 23-12                                

133         Carlos Herrera (CSUB) def. Jauquin Olivas, 7-6 (6 OT)                       

141         Ian Nickell (CSUB) def. Uzo Owuama, 9-1                                              

149         Coleman Hammond (CSUB) def. Joe Huber by TF (18-1) at 2:40   

157         AJ Fierro (CSUB)  def. Steven Abayon, 19-6                                            

165         Sean O'Rourke (CSUB) def. Casey Larson, 4-1                                      

174         Kenny Moore (GCU) def. Jesus Ambriz, 14-9                                        

184         Austin Gaun (GCU) def. Dylan Bollinger, 8-6                                           

197         Reuben Franklin (CSUB) pinned Austin Trujillo, at 4:08                     

285         Daniel Chaid (GCU) def. Matt Williams, 7-3                                           

A-334.