SHIPPENSBURG - Redshirt freshman Dylan Nace won by fall at 141 pounds for one of East Stroudsburg University's four victories, but Shippensburg posted a 20-15 win in PSAC and NCAA DII Super Region 1 wrestling on Tuesday night at Heiges Fieldhouse.

Junior Connor Maliff won by decision at 133, Nace had a third-period fall at 141 and junior Tyler Richardson (184) and senior Tyson Searer (285) both won by decision for ESU.

Shippensburg opened the night with a decision at 125, where Dustin Steffenino (No. 5 in Super Region 1) won a 6-0 decision over ESU redshirt freshman Collyn Dorney.

Maliff had a solid 7-2 decision vs. Dante Steffenino (No. 5 in SR1) at 133, getting a takedown and four back points in the third period.

Nace improved to 13-3 (7-0 duals) with his sixth pin and 10th bonus point win of the season at 141 pounds. He held a 14-2 lead entering the third period and decked Jared Leonetti just seven seconds into the third.

Shippensburg trailed 9-3 at that point, but won four straight bouts to gain the lead, starting with an 11-3 major decision by Cody Blankenship (149) vs. redshirt freshman Blake Cohen.

At 157, ESU junior Joey Kratochvil, ranked No. 5 in Super Region 1, dropped a 2-1 decision to Adam Martz to end a five-match winning streak. Kratochvil falls to 8-6 on the season (7-2 in duals) and 6-2 vs. DII wrestlers.

Ship's Mark Lentz won a 3-0 decision over freshman Josh Deutel at 165.

Hunter Fenk used the riding time point to win a 3-2 decision vs. ESU redshirt junior Joe Welk (No. 5 in SR1) at 174 after Welk scored the first points with a first-period takedown.

Richardson (No. 3 in SR1) won a 9-4 decision vs. Shane Springer at 184, with two takedowns in the first period and another in the third. Richardson, a returning DII qualifier at 197, improves to 11-4 (7-2 duals) and 4-3 vs. DII opponents.

Ship sealed the match at 197 where Evan Ramos (No. 3 in SR1) won a 14-2 major decision vs. junior Brandon Steele.

Searer (No. 3 in SR1) finished the night for ESU with a 5-1 decision over Derek Earnest at 285. Searer had a first-period takedown, a stall point in the second, an escape in the third and significant riding time advantage for his five points.

Searer won his 40th career dual (40-9) and improves to 68-36 overall at ESU. He is 9-6 this season (5-2 in duals) and 4-1 vs. DII opposition, with his only loss (6-1) to region No. 1 D.J. Sims of Pitt-Johnstown.

ESU hosts No. 7-ranked Mercyhurst on Friday at 7 p.m.


Shippensburg 20, ESU 15
125 - Dustin Steffenino (Ship) dec. Collyn Dorney, 6-0 … Ship leads 3-0
133 - Connor Maliff (ESU) dec. Dante Steffenino, 7-2 … Tied 3-3
141 - Dylan Nace (ESU) pinned Jared Leonetti, 5:07 … ESU leads 9-3
149 - Cody Blankenship (Ship) maj. dec. Blake Cohen, 11-3 … ESU leads 9-7
157 - Adam Martz (Ship) dec. Joey Kratochvil, 2-1 … Ship leads 10-9
165 - Mark Lentz (Ship) dec. Josh Deutel, 3-0 … Ship leads 13-9
174 - Hunter Fenk (Ship) dec. Joe Welk, 3-2 … Ship leads 16-9
184 - Tyler Richardson (ESU) dec. Shane Springer, 9-4 … Ship leads 16-12
197 - Evan Ramos (Ship) maj. dec. Brandon Steele, 14-2 … Ship leads 20-12
285 - Tyson Searer (ESU) dec. Derek Earnest, 5-1 … Ship wins 20-15

SR1 rankings:
125 - #5 Du. Steffenino (Ship)
133 - #5 Da. Steffenino (Ship)
157 - #5 Kratochvil (ESU)
174 - #5 Welk (ESU)
184 - #3 Richardson (ESU)
197 - #3 Ramos (Ship)
285 - #3 Searer (ESU)

ESU 5-4 (0-3 PSAC)
Shippensburg 8-5 (3-0)