SAU splits pair of duals at Missouri Baptist
St. Ambrose split two decisions at the Missouri Baptist Spartan duals Saturday in St. Louis, Mo. The Bees defeated Westminster 26-23 after falling to Missouri Baptist 28-23 to start the day.
SAU won four of the first five matches then sealed the victory over Westminster with a big pin from Abdullah Razzak.
Leading 6-4 after two matches following Mick Chagnon's forfeit victory at 125 pounds, the Bees won three matches in a row, all earning bonus points.
Guiseppe Guerra earned a 17-4 major decision at 141 pounds, and then Josh Zeman and Diego Machado earned back-to-back tech fall victories. Zeman's 20-4 win came at the 5:39 mark at 149 pounds and Machado won 18-2 in just 3:51 at 157 pounds. That gave St. Ambrose a 20-4 advantage.
But the Blue Jays came back with four straight victories, including two by fall, to go in front 23-20, heading into the final match. That's where Razzak came through for the Bees. He got a quick takedown and then at the 2:45 mark, pinned his foe at heavyweight to give SAU the dual win.
Bonus points proved to be the difference in the loss to Missouri Baptist as each team won five matches.
St. Ambrose won just two of the first seven bouts. Guerra eked out a 4-3 decision at 141 pounds and Machado got a first-period pin at the 1:58 mark at 157 pounds.
Trailing 28-9, the Bees rallied late.
First, Colin O'Grady got a late pin, winning at the 6:49 mark at 184 pounds. Dylan Meiners followed with an 18-1 tech fall victory at 5:34 at 197 pounds. Jeremiah Morris wrapped up the dual with a 6-2 win as St. Ambrose came up just short.
Slade Dias earned a 7-2 win at an exhibition match at 165 pounds against Missouri Baptist. Tate O'Shea (2:49 at 149 pounds) and Anthony Sartori (0:59 at 174 pounds) won by fall in exhibitions against Westminster, and Tyler Casey picked up a 19-4 tech fall in 5:14 at heavyweight.
SAU, now 3-1 in duals, will host No. 23 Graceland Wednesday.