LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bellarmine wrestling had its hands full on Sunday afternoon, suffering a 28-6 loss to a fresh Central Michigan team in Knights Hall.

The Knights (1-3) have now lost back-to-back matches for the first time since the Knights opened their Southern Conference last season with back-to-back losses against Campbell and Appalachian State. Central Michigan (1-1) gets its first win of the season after opening its dual schedule on Friday night with a loss at Indiana.

"Definitely not how I saw the dual going. We've been really consistent with our fight this year and today, we didn't have it," said Bellarmine head coach Ned Shuck. "Looking forward to figuring it out and getting back to work with the guys in what we love doing!"

Redshirt junior Grant O'Dell got Bellarmine on the board in the fourth match of the day at 174. With a takedown in each of the first two periods, O'Dell built a lead and was able to hold on for a 7-3 decision win over Nick Marienfeld.

In the final match of the dual, redshirt sophomore AJ Rallo, the No. 32 ranked wrestler at 141, ended the match on a high note. Down 3-1 in the first with no scoring in the second, Rallo had work to in the final period. He earned a point for a quick escape to open the third before sealing the deal with a takedown with just seven seconds left in the match. Adding on the riding time point, Rallo picked up a 6-3 decision win over Nick Blackburn.

Bellarmine will have another quick turnaround before they hit the mat again. The Knights will travel to Kent, OH on Thursday, December 11 for a tri-meet, taking on Kent State and Edinboro.

Bellarmine (6) vs. Central Michigan (28)
149: #30 Jimmy Nugent (CMU) def. Zac Cowan (BU) by DEC, 10-7
157: #24 Mason Shrader (CMU) def. Gray Ortis (BU) by MD, 11-2
165: Chandler Amaker (CMU) def. Noah Hall (BU) by DEC, 4-2
174: Grant O'Dell (BU) def. Nick Marienfeld (CMU) by DEC, 7-3
184: Wyatt Ferguson (CMU) def. Gavin Ricketts (BU) by DEC, 4-1
197: Luke Cochran (CMU) def. Andrew Liber (BU) by DEC, 9-3
285: Bryan Caves (CMU) def. #27 Daulton Mayer by Fall, 0:50
125: Archer Anderson (CMU) def. Damion Ryan by DEC, 13-11
133: Andrew Austin (CMU) def. #31 Trayce Eckman by DEC, 9-2
141: #32 AJ Rallo (BU) def. Nick Blackburn (CMU) by DEC, 6-3

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