LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bellarmine wrestling suffered a tough 19-18 loss to Gardner-Webb to end its homestand on Sunday afternoon in Knights Hall.

Starting at 125, Gardner-Webb took the early momentum with three straight wins, including a pin at 133 to go ahead 12-0.

Redshirt senior Nate Higley finally got the Knights on the board at 149, pouring on the points for a 19-3 tech fall.

The Runnin' Bulldogs responded in the next bout with a major decision, pushing their lead back to 16-5.

Bellarmine continued to fight, going on a run beginning at 165. Redshirt sophomore Noah Hall got the ball rolling with a gritty 4-1 decision before redshirt junior Grant O'Dell (174) got the Knights some more bonus points with an 11-3 major decision. At 184, redshirt sophomore Gavin Ricketts muscled his way to a 5-1 decision to get Bellarmine back within one, down 15-16. Fellow redshirt sophomore Andrew Liber (197) finally gave Bellarmine the lead after getting an escape seconds before time expired to steal an 8-7 decision in the second to last bout of the match, putting BU ahead 18-16.

With the match on the line at 285, senior Thadd Huff gave his all but was unable to come up with a win as Gardner-Webb came away with a 19-18 match victory.

Up next, Bellarmine will make its final road trip of the regular season, heading to Charleston, SC for a dual at The Citadel on February 15.

Bellarmine 18, Garnder-Webb 19
125 – Tyson Lane (GW) def. Damion Ryan (BU) by DEC, 5-1
133 – #15 T.K. Davis (GW) def. Trayce Eckman (BU) by Fall, 0:52
141 – Dominic DiTullio (GW) def. AJ Rallo (BU) by DEC, 7-5
149 – Nate Higley (BU) def. Charlie Sly (BU) by TF, 19-3
157 – Joey Giordano (GW) def. Jeb Prechtel (BU) by MD, 12-3
165 – Noah Hall (BU) def. Luke Murray (GW) by DEC, 4-1
174 – Grant O'Dell (BU) def. Isaiah Guerrero (GW) by MD, 11-3
184 – Gavin Ricketts (BU) def. Andrew Wilson (GW) by DEC, 5-1
197 – Andrew Liber (BU) def. Hadyn Danals (GW) by DEC, 8-7
285 – Josh McCutchen (GW) def. Thadd Huff (BU) by DEC 8-2

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