BAKERSFIELD, Calif.  – The San Francisco State wrestling team closed out the regular-season portion of its 2008-09 schedule with a 30-12 defeat to Division I Cal State Bakersfield at the Icardo Center in Bakersfield, Calif.  The Gators lost for just the second time in their last 10 outings, but still finished at 9-6 overall, their first winning record in dual-meet competition since the 1996-97 squad posted a 12-5 mark. Meanwhile, the Roadrunners improved to 10-5 on the year with the win.

SF State came out strong, as Joaquin Carlos picked up his fourth straight victory in the 149-pound weight class after pinning Anthony Box in the second period at 3:58. Markham Bertron soon followed with a 6-3 decision over Sam Barnhart at 157 to give the Gators a 9-0 advantage.

The momentum proved to be short-lived, however, as CSUB posted two wins by technical fall at 165 and 174, respectively, to take the lead for good at 10-9.  The Roadrunners stretched the margin to 13-9 after Riley Orozco emerged triumphant over Marques Gales by a 10-4 score.   

The Gators then faced a pair of nationally ranked Division I wrestlers in the ensuing two bouts, but were unable to pull of any upsets.  Vincent Bordi experienced a 16-5 defeat by major decision to No. 7 Brandon Halsey, while Steve Franklin lost for just the second time in his last 13 matches, dropping a 13-2 major decision to sixth-ranked Mitch Monteiro in the heavyweight class.

 Trailing 24-9 after Pierre Bondoc suffered a 9-5 setback to Frank Lomas at 125, the SF State drought ended at 133 when Naveed Bagheri rallied from a 4-2 deficit for a 9-5 decision over Justin Durham, the Gator freshman's seventh victory in his last eight bouts.  CSUB then added a pin at 141 to provide for the final score of 30-12.

SF State will have two weeks to prepare for the NCAA Division II West Regional/Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 28, in Kearney, Neb.

Cal State Bakersfield 30, San Francisco State 12

149 – Joaquin Carlos (SF State) fall Anthony Box (CSUB), 3:58

157 – Markham Bertron (SF State) dec. Sam Barnhart (CSUB), 6-3

165 – Joey Granata (CSUB) tech. fall Matt Mungo (SF State), 21-6

174 – Jason Points (CSUB) tech. fall Lucas Duckwall (SF State), 15-0

184 – Riley Orozco (CSUB) dec. Marques Gales (SF State), 10-4

197 – # 7 Brandon Halsey (CSUB) major dec. Vincent Bordi (SF State), 16-5

285 – # 6 Mitch Monteiro (CSUB) major dec. Steve Franklin (SF State), 13-2

125 – Frank Lomas (CSUB) dec. Pierre Bondoc (SF State), 9-5

133 – Naveed Bagheri (SF State) dec. Justin Durham (CSUB), 9-5