The Citadel rallies past Bellarmine 22-13
The Citadel overcame a 10-3 deficit with a string of late victories, including a third-period pin and two overtime/late-score decisions, to top Bellarmine at McAlister Field House.
CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Citadel rallied from a 10-3 deficit to defeat Bellarmine 22-13 on Feb. 15 at McAlister Field House.
Bellarmine built the early margin when Trayce Eckman won at 133 pounds, No. 32 AJ Rallo compiled a 10-2 major decision at 141 and Nate Higley closed the Bellarmine run with a 7-4 decision at 149 to put the Knights ahead 10-3.
The Citadel answered beginning at 157 pounds. Kyrel Leavell turned a high-scoring match into a 20-7 major decision to cut the gap, then No. 20 Thomas Snipes edged Noah Hall 2-1 at 165 after a third-period stalling call produced the deciding point.
Jacob Silka tied his 174-pound bout in the third period and secured the win with an escape in the second overtime, and Brodie Porter completed the swing with a third-period takedown and fall at 184 to put The Citadel firmly in front.
Adam Ortega followed with a 9-5 decision at 197, using a reversal and two-point nearfall late in the third to regain the lead after a third-period tying takedown by his opponent. Evan Grazzini closed the scoring for Bellarmine with an 8-2 decision at heavyweight, producing the final 22-13 score.
The dual featured several late-match turnarounds. Transcript entries show Higley recorded a takedown with five seconds remaining in the third and added a nearfall to complete his comeback at 149. Eckman’s bout at 133 was decided by a third-period takedown recorded at clock 51 that produced a 4-1 margin.
The Citadel entered the day with SoCon standing implications and used the comeback to improve its dual-sheet position while Bellarmine dropped a conference contest. The meet was part of a doubleheader weekend for the host school at McAlister Field House.