After Steve Edwards' fall at 174 lbs. and No. 7-ranked Brock Biddle's sudden victory at 184 lbs. gave the lead back to Pitt-Johnstown, top-ranked Nebraska-Kearney battled back to win the final two bouts and hold off the Mountain Cats, 23-16, in Friday's Quarterfinals of the NWCA National Duals in Louisville, Kentucky.  Pitt-Johnstown had its 16-match winning streak snapped and slipped to 9-1 on the season.
 
Pitt-Johnstown will take on the winner of the No. 8 Lindenwood/Wisconsin-Parkside match in Friday's second round of the wrestlebacks at 5 p.m.
 
A 4-2 win by second-ranked Josh Portillo over Brendan Howard at 125 lbs., and a 9-5 decision by Wesley Dawkins over Matt Siszka at 133 lbs. gave Nebraska-Kearney a 6-0 lead to start.
 
Pitt-Johnstown answered with two straight wins to take its first lead.  At 141 lbs., third-ranked Joey Alessandro earned a 9-0 major decision over Jon Killingsworth, and No. 1-ranked Chris Eddins defeated Nickalas Babcock, 7-2, to put the Mountain Cats on top 7-6.
 
Things got even more difficult in the next two bouts as Nebraska-Kearney featured No. 1-ranked wrestlers in both weight classes.  Top-ranked Matt Malcolm scored a 17-1 technical fall victory at 4:31 over Corey Falleroni at 157 lbs., and No. 1-ranked Matt Ochs used an escape to secure a 1-0 win over No. 9 Devin Austin that gave the lead back to Nebraska-Kearney, 14-7.
 
Just like in Friday's opening match, Edwards came through in a big way for Pitt-Johnstown.  Edwards pinned fifth-ranked Zach Stodden as time expired in the final period to cut it to 14-13, and Biddle got a take down early into the first overtime period in a 10-8 victory over Isaac Deaton that put the Mountain Cats back on top 16-14.
 
However, Brady Radik pinned Alex Delp at 4:39 in the 197-lb. bout, and fifth-ranked Jarrod Hinrichs won a 3-1 decision over Tyler Oliver at 285 lbs. to give Nebraska-Kearney the 23-16 victory.