(CLARION, PA): Pitt 125-pound freshman Jordan Sianni pinned Clarion’s Matt Doerfler at 6:44 in an exciting finish on Tuesday night to give Pitt a 23-16 EWL win over Clarion in NCAA Division I Wrestling.

Held at Clarion’s Waldo S. Tippin Gymanasium, the loss dropped Clarion to 8-5 overall and 1-3 in the EWL, while Pitt raised its record to 7-3 overall and 3-1 in the Eastern Wrestling League.

Sianni and Doerfler were locked in an exciting matchup at 125 late in the third period. With Clairon’s Doerfler trailing 6-2, the Clarion sophomore reversed Sianni and gained a stall point to pull within 6-5 with only 40-seconds remaining. Doerfler aggressively went for a winning nearfall and was reversed to his back and pinned with time running out.

Clarion jumped out to a 7-0 team lead when 133-pounder Rad Martinez posted a 19-6 major decision over Mike Ciotti, and teammate Frank Edgar gained a 10-6 decision over Ron Tarquinnio at 141.

Pitt’s Justin Giovinco stopped Clarion’s momentum with a 6-1 win over Jim Perry at 149, setting the stage for two big Pitt wins at 157 and 165 pounds.

The Panthers Justin Nestor upset Jeremy Reitz 3-1 with a third period reversal and riding time, while teammate Francis Iorfido used a four-point move late in the third to gain a 9-5 win over Clarion’s Chris Horning. Horning was leading 5-4 with just inside 40-seconds left in the match when Iorfido body locked Horning to his back for four points and the win. He also added a riding point.

Pitt’s Carl Fronhofer won by technical fall over Dave Gardner 22-4 at 7:00 at 174-pounds and Mike Croyle decisioned Eric Spence 4-0 to give Pitt and 17-7 lead.

Clarion bounced back with #10 ranked Eric Mausser getting a forfeit win at 197 and #6 ranked John Testa posting a 13-9 decision over Pitt’s Robert Krail at heavyweight to narrow Pitt’s lead to 17-16, setting up Sianni’s winning bout.

Clarion returns to action at Cleveland State on Thursday, February 13^th at 7:30pm.