ROME, Ga. -- Three straight pins to close out the match helped the No. 6-ranked Lindsey Wilson College wrestling team to a 32-12 win over No. 17-ranked Shorter (Ga.) University today at the Winthrop-King Centre.

With the win, Lindsey Wilson (5-2, 2-0 in the MSC) takes over sole possession of first place in the Mid-South Conference standings -- leading University of the Cumberlands by a 1/2 match. Shorter falls to 3-2 on the season in duals and 0-2 in conference play.

The Blue Raiders jumped out to a 4-0 lead following the 125-pound match as sophomore Andy Lenz picked up a 15-3 major decision over Shorter's Jonathan Rodriquez. The Hawks climbed within a point (4-3) in the dual as Nate Galloway earned an 8-2 decision over LWC senior Keith Klink at 133 pounds.

Lindsey Wilson captured the next three matches -- two by decision and one with a major decision -- to extend its lead to 14-3 at the midway point of the dual.

Junior DaMonte Riley opened the run with a 3-2 decision over Colby Rinehart at 141 pounds and Lindsey Wilson sophomore Isaac Thomas followed with a 6-2 decision over Robbie Collum in the 149-pound match.

Blue Raider senior Charlie Pingleton closed the Lindsey Wilson run with a 17-8 major over Dalton Lane at 157 pounds.

Shorter responded with a run of its own winning the next two weight classes.

At 165 pounds, Shorter's Wally Figaro pinned freshman Aaron Back at 3:37 to cut the Lindsey Wilson lead to 14-9.

In the only match featuring two ranked wrestlers Shorter's Raleigh Abbott -- ranked No. 5 -- beat Lindsey Wilson's No. 9-ranked junior James Haywood 6-4. Following the match, the Hawks had climbed within 14-12 in the match.

But the Hawks would get no closer as Lindsey Wilson sophomores Ian Stephens, Derek Nickel and Aaron Edington each earned pins to close out the match with 18 straight team points and a 32-12 win.

Stephens started the dominating run by closing out his match over Joe Hinchman in 1:59 at 184 pounds. Edington pinned Alex McGhee in 2:52 in the 197-pound match while Nickel ended the 285-pound match in 32 seconds with a pin of Bret Haley.

Lindsey Wilson returns to action on Sunday, Dec.18 as the Blue Raiders travel to the Midwest Classic in Indianapolis, Ind.

Complete Results

#6 LINDSEY WILSON 32, #17 SHORTER 12

125 — Andy Lenz (LWC) def. Jonathan Rodriguez (SU), major decision, 15-3 (LWC 4-0)

133 — Nate Galloway (SU) def. #8 Keith Klink (LWC), decision, 8-2 (LWC 4-3)

141 -- #3 DeMonte Riley (LWC) def. Colby Rinehart (SU), decision, 3-2 (LWC 7-3)

149 -- #7 Isaac Thomas (LWC) def. Robbie Collum (SU), decision, 6-2 (LWC 10-3)

157 -- #2 Charlie Pingleton (LWC) def. Dalton Lane (SU), major decision, 17-8 (LWC 14-3)

165 -- #6 Wally Figaro (SU) def. Aaron Back (LWC), pin, 3:37 (LWC 14-9)

174 -- #5 Raleigh Abbott (SU) def. #9 James Haywood (LWC), decision, 6-4 (LWC 14-12)

184 -- #3 Ian Stephens (LWC) def. Joe Hinchman (SU), pin, 1:59 (LWC 20-12)

197 — Aaron Edington (LWC) def. Alex McGhee (SU), pin, 2:52 (LWC 26-12)

285 -- #8 Derek Nickel (LWC) def. Bret Haley (SU), pin, 0:32 (LWC 32-12)