LANCASTER, Pa. – Franklin & Marshall suffered a 36-3 loss to Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) opponent Bucknell on Thursday evening in Mayser. 

The Diplomats saw their dual-meet record evened at 4-4 overall on the season while their EIWA mark dropped to 1-3. The Bison improved to 7-3, 6-1 EIWA.

Jose Diaz battled in the opening 125-pound match, fighting back from an early 6-1 first-period deficit with an escape and takedown in the second to pull within two. He forced a pair of stalls in the final frame to earn a penalty point but was unable to claw back any further en route to a narrow 7-5 defeat. 

Down by a 9-0 team score heading into 141 pounds, F&M got life with a strong 9-7 decision win from Wil Gil. The Diplomat grappler registered a key takedown in the closing seconds of the first to pull ahead at 5-3. He added a clutch third-period takedown and fought off a late shot from Bucknell's David Campbell to hold on for the two-point victory. 

However, it was all Bucknell from there as the Bison claimed seven-consecutive bouts to conclude the match. Cenzo Pelusi nearly ended the competition with a Diplomat win at 285 pounds. After picking up a first-period takedown to go ahead by two, Pelusi traded escapes to head into the third with a 3-1 edge. 

Brandon Stokes chose bottom to start the third before escaping and recording a takedown to pull in front by one. Pelusi forced a pair of stall calls late in the frame and received a penalty point to cut his deficit to one, but was unable to land a shot before the period came to an end with a tough 5-4 defeat. 

F&M aims to get back on track this Saturday when the Diplomats travel to New York for a pair of duals on Hofstra's campus. Action opens against Columbia at 3:00 p.m. before taking on the hosts at 4:30 p.m.

Bucknell 36, F&M 3
125: Brandon Seidman (BUCK) over Jose Diaz (F&M) (Dec 7-5)
133: Darren Miller (BUCK) over Jack Bruce (F&M) (Fall 3:27)
141: Wil Gil (F&M) over David Campbell (BUCK) (Dec 9-7)
149: Matt Kolonia (BUCK) over Cristiaan Dailey (F&M) (Fall 1:11)
157: Jaden Fisher (BUCK) over Noah Chan (F&M) (Dec 7-2)
165: No. 17 Zach Hartman (BUCK) over Emmett LiCastri (F&M) (MD 12-3)
174: Mitch Hartman (BUCK) over Crew Fullerton (F&M) (MD 10-2)
184: Kyle Inlander (BUCK) over Reid Robilotto (F&M) (Dec 8-2)
197: No. 28 Drew Phipps (BUCK) over Ethan Seeley (F&M) (MD 11-3)
285: Brandon Stokes (BUCK) over Cenzo Pelusi (F&M) (Dec 5-4)