GLENDALE, Ariz. – 20th-ranked Mountaineer Men's Wrestling improved to 5-3 in dual action on Friday evening with a 30-12 comeback win over Arizona Christian University. Eastern Oregon closed the match out winning the final five bouts to secure the victory.

EOU (5-3, 3-2 CCC) picked up seven wins on the night as they mounted a come-from-behind victory over ACU (8-4, 4-3 CCC). The Mountaineers trailed 13-12 midway through the dual before winning the final five matches.

Luciano Fasulo got the dual started properly for the Mountaineers pinning his opponent in 5:12 at 125 pounds. Fasulo dominated the match up to the point of the fall as he scored 15 points and allowed just two in that same span.

The Mountaineers extended their lead thanks to Zach Mauras scoring a 17-6 major decision at 133 pounds. It was a close battle toward the end of the second period as the bout was tied at 6-6. Mauras then scored 10 straight points to lead 16-6 and held on for the 11-point win after riding time. 

Leading 10-0, Eastern then surrendered its first loss as Chad Muenzer dropped a close 13-11 decision at 141 pounds. Muenzer found himself in a big hole, 12-0, early on but did not quit. He slowly chipped away at the deficit and battled back to trail by two, 12-10, going into the third period. His comeback efforts fell just short as the Firestorm brought the team score to 10-3.

Arizona Christian immediately got within one point as a team, 10-9, as Jaxon Morlan was pinned in 58 second at 149 pounds. The Firestorm then grabbed their first lead of the night when Malakai Moyer dropped an 8-2 decision at 157 pounds. The three-straight wins gave ACU a 12-10 lead at the midway point of the dual.

EOU answered to start the second half of the dual as John Bittinger won a hard fought 6-3 decision at 165 pounds. He scored a pair of takedowns in the second period after going down 1-0 to start. His final takedown was early in the third and ultimately allowed him to secure the win. His victory put the Mountaineers back in front of the Firestorm by one, 13-12.

The momentum from Bittinger's win carried over for the Mountaineers as Keegan Mulhill posted an 11-2 major decision at 174 pounds. Mulhill raced out to a 4-0 lead and never looked backed. He did not give up the two points until the third period but had already secured the nine-point win.

The Firestorm then forfeited at 184 pounds which gave EOU a total of 10 team points after Mulhill's win. Picking up the forfeit victory at 184 pounds was Kyle Knudtson. Going into the final two matches, Eastern was in front of the Firestorm 23-12. 

Jay Smith's victory at 197 pounds secured the team win for EOU. He battled in a low scoring affair with a 3-1 decision. He got an escape point early on in the second period to go ahead 1-0 before a takedown in the third helped him earn the two-point win and gave EOU a 26-12 lead.

Wrapping up the comeback efforts for the Mountaineers was Noel Orozco at 285 pounds. He shutout out his opponent with ease scoring a 9-0 major decision. The win capped off five-straight wins for the Mountaineers in the second half of the dual.

The Mountaineers will be back on the mats tomorrow afternoon for another conference dual and this time it will be a top-20 showdown. EOU will face No. 18 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.) in Prescott with action beginning at 4 p.m. PT.

No. 20 Eastern Oregon vs. Arizona Christian
125: Luciano Fasulo (EOU) over Marcus Morales (ACU) | Fall 5:12 | EOU- 6, ACU- 0
133: Zach Mauras (EOU) over Isaiah Marquez (ACU) | MD 17-6 | EOU- 10, ACU- 0
141: Trevor Downey (ACU) over Chad Muenzer (EOU) | Dec. 13-11 | EOU- 10, ACU- 3
149: Grant Anderson (ACU) over Jaxon Morlan (EOU) | Fall 0:58 | EOU- 10, ACU- 9
157: Carlos Castagnaro (ACU) over Malakai Moyer (EOU) | Dec. 8-2 | ACU- 12, EOU- 10
165: John Bittinger (EOU) over Anthony Aguilera (ACU) | Dec. 6-3 | EOU- 13, ACU- 12
174: Keegan Mulhill (EOU) over Jacob Viera (ACU) | MD 11-2 | EOU- 17, ACU- 12
184: Kyle Knudtson (EOU) over Unknown (ACU) | Forfeit | EOU- 23, ACU- 12
197: Jay Smith (EOU) over Va Ili (ACU) | Dec. 3-1 | EOU- 26, ACU- 12
285: Noel Orozco (EOU) over Caleb Baker (ACU) | MD 9-0 | EOU- 30, ACU- 12

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