SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco State wrestling team came up short for the second night in a row after dropping a hard-fought 22-15 decision to Southern Oregon in a non-conference dual meet Saturday at The Swamp.
 
Despite splitting 10 bouts, the Gators (3-6) were unable to overcome two pins and a loss by major decision against the Raiders (8-3), who entered the weekend ranked No. 2 in the nation at the NAIA level.
 
SOU drew first blood with a win at 157; however, SF State responded with two straight victories as Isaiah Jimenez (165) and Arman Ostadsharif (174) each earned decisions in their respective weight classes to give the host school a 6-3 edge on the team scoreboard.
 
Jimenez prevailed by a 5-2 count over Dalton Urrutia, overcoming a 1-0 deficit in the third period with two takedowns and an escape to help raise his record to 14-5 on the year. Ostadsharif, meanwhile, emerged triumphant for the second night in row after dispatching Derek Mestrovich by a 3-1 count, clinching the match with a late takedown at 6:49 in the third period for his sixth triumph of the year.
 
The Gator momentum was short-circuited, however, as Brock Gutches pinned Zach Jimenez at 184, while Ethan Hinton followed with a tight 6-5 decision over Thomas Martin at 197, catapulting the Raiders in front for good at 12-6.  Trailing 5-2, entering the final period, Hinton notched an escape and takedown to tie the match, before picking up a point for riding time to steal the win.
 
SF State crept to within three at 12-9, thanks to Anthony Gonzalez's 6-2 decision over Hank Turner in the heavyweight division.  With the score knotted at 1-1 in the third frame, Gonzalez seized control of the bout with a takedown and 2-point near fall to go along with riding time for his 10th win of the season, which surpassed his victory total from a year ago.
 
It was now SOU's turn to strike back, and it did so in a big way as the NAIA's No. 1 ranked wrestler at 125, Mitchell Hoftstedt, notched a first-period pin to give the visitors their biggest lead of the night at 18-9.
 
Consecutive wins by Julian Perez (133) and Daniel Flores (141) pulled the Gators to within three once again at 18-15; however, the comeback fell short when Jimmy Eggemeyer emerged with a victory by major decision at 149.
 
Perez pocketed a 4-1 decision over Luis Baltazar, grabbing an early takedown, before adding a penalty point and riding time to improve to 13-8 overall.  In perhaps the most intriguing match of the night, Flores escaped with a 6-5 nail-biter over Kyle Wirkuty, earning the decisive margin via riding time after ceding a pair of tying penalty points in the third period.
 
The Gators look to return to the win column next weekend when they battle Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foes Adams State and Grand Canyon on Saturday, Jan. 28, in Phoenix, Ariz.
 
Southern Oregon 22, SF State 15
157 – Brock Crocker (SOU) dec. Vicente Aboytes (SF State), 10-4
165 – Isaiah Jimenez (SF State) dec. Dalton Urrutia (SOU), 5-2
174 – Arman Ostadsharif (SF State) dec. Derek Mestrovich (SOU), 3-1
184 – Brock Gutches (SOU) pinned Zach Jimenez (SF State), 2:41
197 – Ethan Hinton (SOU) dec. Thomas Martin (SF State), 6-5
285 – Anthony Gonzalez (SF State) dec. Hank Turner (SOU), 6-2
125 – Mitchell Lofstedt (SOU) pinned Sergio Valdez (SF State), 2:03
133 – Julian Perez (SF State) dec. Miguel Baltazar (SOU), 4-1
141 – Daniel Flores (SF State) dec. Kyle Wirkuty (SOU), 6-5
149 – Jimmy Eggemeyer (SOU) maj. dec. Dylan Phillipy (SF State), 11-1
 
Southern Oregon 22, Menlo 18
157 – Dalton Urrutia (SOU) dec. David Rios (MC), 8-3
165 – Mike Lopez (MC) dec. Derek Mestrovich (SOU), 7-3
174 – Brock Gutches (SOU) dec. Nick Gill (MC), 7-1
184 – Greg Alvarez (MC) over Austin Vanderford (SOU), inj. def.
197 – Ethan Hinton (SOU) tech. fall Justin Harrison (MC), 21-3
285 – Lenny Romero (MC) pinned Hank Turner (SOU), 1:05
125 – Mitchell Lofstedt (SOU) maj. dec. Drake Medeiros (MC), 14-2
133 – Angel Garcia (MC) dec. Miguel Baltazar (SOU), 9-4
141 – Kyle Wirkuty (SOU) maj. dec. Christian Franks (MC), 12-4
149 – Jimmy Eggemeyer (SOU) dec. Richie Nole (MC), 6-1