DURHAM, N.C. – A narrow 4-3 win by Roderick Davis at 197 pounds sealed the overall match win for the Runnin' Bulldogs, as Gardner-Webb escaped with a 20-19 win over Duke in non-conference wrestling action Wednesday night inside Cameron Indoor Stadium.
 
Gardner-Webb (2-7) jumped out to an immediate 6-0 lead over Duke (0-13), as the Blue Devils forfeited the matchup at 125 pounds.
 
Duke cut GWU's lead in half in the following bout at 133 pounds with Harrison Campbell taking a 14-7 decision over Trevon Majette.
 
GWU answered at 133 pounds as Brandon Bright picked up an 11-2 major decision over Bryson Neace to give GWU a 10-3 lead.
 
The Blue Devils pulled back within three points at 10-7 at 149 pounds with Wade Unger defeating Anthony Schiess by a 12-1 major decision.
 
Gardner-Webb answered once again in the following match at 157 pounds with a 9-2 decision by Taylor Parks over Eric Carter to set the team score at 13-7.
 
Duke pushed back by taking the following two decisions, with Benjamin Anderson defeating Christian Trimble, 9-5, at 165 pounds and Mason Eaglin defeating Evan Schenk, 7-4, at 174 pounds to tie the match at 13-13.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs got back on track at 184 pounds with Samuel Mora earning a 17-5 major decision over Kai Blake to take a four-point lead with two matchups left.
 
At 197 pounds, Davis jumped out to an early lead in the match and held on for a 4-3 win over Vincent Baker to put GWU up by seven points and to seal the overall match win.
 
Action wrapped up at 285 pounds, were Duke's Ben Frye pinned Gabriel Pickett in 1:56.
 
Tonight's win marked Gardner-Webb's third ever win against Duke, and the first since taking a 19-18 decision over the Blue Devils on February 3, 2016.
 
The 'Dogs return to the mat Sunday afternoon, taking on Presbyterian in Southern Conference action at 1:00 pm in Clinton, S.C.
 
TEAM SCORES: Gardner-Webb 20, Duke
 
125: Michael Pappaconstantinou (GWU) won by forfeit
133: Harrison Campbell (Duke) def. Trevon Majette (GWU), Dec. 14-7
141: Brandon Bright (GWU) def. Bryson Neace (Duke), MD 11-2
149: Wade Unger (Duke) def. Anthony Schiess (GWU), MD 12-1
157: Taylor Parks (GWU) def. Eric Carter (Duke), Dec. 9-2
165: Ben Anderson (Duke) def. Christian Trimble (GWU), Dec. 9-5
174: Mason Eaglin (Duke) def. Evan Schenk (GWU), Dec. 7-4
184: Samuel Mora (GWU) def. Kai Blake (Duke), MD 17-5
197: Roderick Davis (GWU) def. Vincent Baker (Duke), Dec. 4-3
285: Ben Frye (Duke) def. Gabriel Pickett (GWU), Fall 1:56