LEXINGTON, Va.- The VMI wrestling team jumped out to an early lead but lost five of the next six matches in dropping a 27-13 decision to Gardner-Webb Friday night at Cocke Hall in the Keydets' home opener.

GWU (3-5) fell behind 6-0 early on a 3-2 victory by sophomore Tommy Cunningham at 157 and a 7-4 win by senior Chris Hardy at 165. Cunningham remains perfect on the year, winning all three matches he has wrestled, all coming in dual matches. Hardy evened his record to 3-3 with the win.

The tide then turned at 174, where GWU's Chad Davis score a 10-6 victory over VMI's Dustin McCabe to put the Bulldogs on the scoreboard. The visitors tied the match at six with an 8-4 win by junior Brandon Beach at 184. Senior Brent Blackwell then posted the first of two Bulldog pins, doing so in 1:22 at 197 pounds.

VMI junior Scott Buhman cut the GWU lead to 12-9 with his 8-2 victory over Brandon Schweitzer. However, GWU would take the next two matches to push their lead to 12 with only two matches remaining. At 125, Cortney Roberts scored the forfeit victory while nationally-ranked Josh Pniewski defeated VMI freshman Brandon Stillo by a 7-4 margin.

With VMI (1-2) needing a pair of pins to earn a tie, junior David Metzler came out gunning and nearly scored one in his match's opening minute at 141. However, A.J. Renteria was able to avoid the pin, falling by a 13-5 margin, giving Metzler a major decision but clinching the dual victory for the visitors. Nationally-ranked senior Daniel Elliott ran his record to 11-1 by pinning VMI junior Sam Alvarenga in 4:07.

The Keydets won't take much time off, returning to action Sunday at the Penn State Nittany Lion Open. That is the team's last competition before Christmas break, while Gardner-Webb hits the mat again next Saturday, Dec. 10, when they will wrestle Indiana in Bloomington in a dual meet.

Gardner-Webb 27, VMI 13

157- Tommy Cunningham (V) def. Adam Glaser, 3-2; VMI 3-0
165- Chris Hardy (V) def. Paul Florio, 7-4; VMI 6-0
174- Chad Davis (G) def. Dustin McCabe, 10-6; VMI 6-3
184- Brandon Beach (G) def. Kyle Elgert, 8-4; Tied 6-6
197- Brent Blackwell (G) pinned Niels Madsen, 1:22; GWU 12-6
285- Scott Buhman (V) def. Brandon Schweitzer, 8-2; GWU 12-9
125- Cortney Roberts (G) wins via forfeit; GWU 18-9
133- Josh Pniewski (G) def. Brandon Stillo, 7-2; GWU 21-9
141- David Metzler (V) maj. dec. A.J. Renteria, 13-5; GWU 21-13
149- Daniel Elliott (G) pinned Sam Alvarenga, 4:07; GWU 27-13