Millersville, Pa. - The Millersville wrestling team gave No. 11 Pitt-Johnstown all it could handle Saturday but came up just short, 28-19, in the Marauders' home opener. 

Millersville (0-2) won four of the six bouts and received pins from 149-pound Josh Ruppert and 285-pound Brad Ladd. Pitt-Johnstown (4-2) had just a bit more firepower, scoring three pins and a major decision in its six victories. 

UPJ boasted seven regionally-ranked wrestlers entering the dual, and Ruppert and Ladd were able to take down two of them. Ruppert pinned Jack Bachman at the 2:51 mark in the first period. The loss was only the third in 14 matches for Bachman. Ladd, who is ranked No. 6 in the region, made quick work of No. 5 Josh Duplin. He ripped off a headlock takedown and quickly pinned Duplin just 37 seconds into the match. 

Millersville took an early lead in the dual thanks to Sam Oberlander's 9-0 major decision at 125 pounds. After Ruppert's win at 149, 157-pound Zac Wawrzyniak-Bush gave the Marauders the team score lead with a hard-fought 5-3 decision over Joel Paolo. UPJ, however, won the next four matches until Ladd closed the dual with his team-best ninth win of the year. 

The Marauders host a trio of matches on Friday and Saturday of next week. On Jan. 11, Mercyhurst visits Pucillo Gymnasium for a PSAC dual at 7 p.m. On Jan. 12, the Marauders face PSAC rival Gannon at 12 p.m. and non-conference foe Lake Erie College at 2 p.m. 

RESULTS
125 - Sam Oberlander (Millersville) won by major decision over Felipe Arias (Pittsburgh-Johnstown) 9-0
133 - Dave Fogle (Pittsburgh-Johnstown) won by pin over Kyle Loeb (Millersville) 6:26
141 - Dave Cawley (Pittsburgh-Johnstown) won by decision over David Charles (Millersville) 7-0
149 - Josh Ruppert (Millersville) won by pin over Jack Bachman (Pittsburgh-Johnstown) 2:51  
157 - Zac Wawrzyniak-Bush (Millersville) won by decision over Joel Paolo (Pittsburgh-Johnstown) 5-3   
165 - Kevin Ryan (Pittsburgh-Johnstown) won by pin over Austin Wenzlaff (Millersville) 1:26
174 - Gary Lantz (Pittsburgh-Johnstown) won by major decision over Zach Pincus (Millersville) 14-1
184 - Travis McKillop (Pittsburgh-Johnstown) won by pin over Tyler Hoover (Millersville) 1:47
197 - Nikos Garofola (Pittsburgh-Johnstown) won by decision over Daniel Cox (Millersville) 9-5      
285 - Brad Ladd (Millersville) won by pin over Josh Duplin (Pittsburgh-Johnstown) 0:37