SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University wrestling team won five of the nine contested bouts on Tuesday night but could not overcome the bonus points accrued by visiting East Stroudsburg, dropping a 25-19 decision to the Warriors in competition from Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg (6-5, 1-2 PSAC) won just one of the first six weight classes on the night, with senior Cody Blankenship scoring takedowns in each of the first two periods to achieve a 6-4 decision over Blake Cohen, ranked seventh in the region at 149 pounds. Blankenship improved his record to 8-5 this season and has won seven of his last eight duals.
 
East Stroudsburg (4-9, 1-3) established a 25-3 lead that it rode to the finish. The Warriors got technical falls at 125 and 165 pounds, a victory by fall at 157 pounds, a forfeit at 133 pounds and a decision at 141 pounds to stake its large advantage. Among the wins for the visitors included another triumph for 165-pounder Mike Raccioppi, ranked No. 1 in the region and No. 5 in the country.
 
Sophomore Ryan Narber began an SU resurgence as the Raiders won the final four bouts. Narber led 3-2 after the first and scored a reversal in the second period to overcome a pair of late takedowns by his opponent, winning 8-6 over Dillon Warner (No. 8 in Super Region 1).
 
Redshirt-freshman Alexi Castro, wrestling for just the third time collegiately, had the highlight match of the night with a 12-10 sudden victory over Paul Rallis (No. 7 in Super Region 1). Castro had four takedowns in regulation in a great battle before scoring a takedown in the sudden victory period for the win.
 
Redshirt-senior Evan Ramos scored his third straight victory by fall and sixth of the season with a pin in just 79 seconds over Dan Makagon. Ramos, ranked No. 1 region and No. 3 in the country, improved to 15-1 overall and 11-0 in duals.
 
Sophomore Derek Berberick closed out the match with a 9-1 major decision, winning his eighth straight match and improving to 11-5 overall on the season. It was Berberick's team-leading third major decision of the season.
 
Shippensburg heads to Erie this weekend, facing Gannon at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Mercyhurst at 11 a.m. Saturday.
 
East Stroudsburg 25, Shippensburg 19
125: Victor Lopez (ESU) tech falls David Reagan (SU), 21-5 [6:04] (5-0)
133: Peter Nace wins by forfeit (11-0)
141: Francesco Palagruto (ESU) dec. Cole Rush (SU), 10-6 (14-0) 
149: Cody Blankenship (SU) dec. Blake Cohen (ESU), 6-4 (14-3)
157: Christian Silva (ESU) pins Sean Donohue (SU), 1:16 (20-3)
165: #5 Mike Raccioppi (ESU) tech falls Chris Miller (SU), 21-6 [7:00] (25-3)
174: Ryan Narber (SU) dec. Dillon Warner (ESU), 8-6 (25-6)
184: Alexi Castro (SU) dec. Paul Rallis (ESU), 12-10, SV1 (25-9)
197: #3 Evan Ramos pins Dan Makagon (ESU), 1:19 (25-15)  
285: Derek Berberick (SU) maj. dec. Hunter Mahan (ESU), 9-1 (25-19)
 
Records:
East Stroudsburg: 4-9, 1-3 PSAC
Shippensburg: 6-5, 1-2 PSAC