Photos (Dawid Chabowski)

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – No. 1 Augsburg scrambled out of a 15-12 deficit with a pair of wins at 197 pounds and heavyweight to defeat No. 11 Saint John's 19-15 on Thursday, Jan. 14, in Collegeville.

The Auggies jumped out to a 7-0 lead via a major decision at 125 pounds and an 11-5 decision at 133 pounds. Senior Mogi Baatar (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia/St. Benedict's Prep, N.J.) surrendered two, three-point near falls in the final minute in the loss.

The Johnnies answered with two consecutive wins to cut the deficit to 7-6. Junior Minga Batsukh (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia/St. Benedict's Prep, N.J.), the defending national champion ranked second nationally, defeated Jafari Vanier 4-2 at 141 pounds. Junior Drew Larson (Willmar, Minn.) then defeated Lucas Murray, 5-2.

Augsburg's Jason Adams earned a technical fall at 157 pounds to increase the lead to 12-6.

SJU answered, however, and took control of the dual with three consecutive wins. Junior Matt Baarson (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park) increased his record to 14-2 on the year with a 4-3 upset win over No. 6 Orlando Ponce at 165 pounds. Sophomore Matt Pfarr (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson) tied the dual at 12-12 with an upset win of his own, an 8-5 victory over No. 3 Zach Molitor in overtime. Junior James Carlson (Royalton, Minn.) then gave the Johnnies their first lead of the dual with an 11-7 win at 184 pounds.

Top-ranked Jared Massey re-gained the lead for Augsburg, 16-15, with a major decision.

With the dual yet to be decided, the Auggies' Andy Witzel, ranked No. 7, edged sophomore Cody Socher (Delano, Minn.) via a takedown in the final minute, 3-2.

The Johnnies return to action this Saturday, Jan. 16, at the Northwestern Open. The meet is scheduled for 9 a.m. in Orange City, Iowa.

No. 1 Augsburg College (AUG) 19, No. 11 Saint John's University (SJU) 15 
125 - Freshman Josh Roberts (AUG) major dec. sophomore Scott Padrnos (SJU), 17-4 [0-4]
133 - Senior Paul Bjorkstrand (No. 5, AUG) dec. senior Mogi Baatar (No. 2, SJU), 11-5 [0-7]
141 - Junior Minga Batsukh (No. 2, SJU) dec. senior Jafari Vanier (No. 5, AUG), 4-2 [3-7]
149 - Junior Drew Larson (SJU) dec. junior Lucas Murray (AUG), 5-2 [6-7]
157 - Senior Jason Adams (No. 5, AUG) tech. fall junior John Vaith (SJU), 5:24; 17-1 [6-12]
165 - Junior Matt Baarson (SJU) dec. junior Orlando Ponce (No. 6, AUG), 4-3 [9-12]
174 - Sophomore Matt Pfarr (No. 9, SJU) dec. junior Zach Molitor (No. 3, AUG), 8-5 OT [12-12]
184 - Junior James Carlson (SJU) dec. freshman Caleb Lines (AUG), 11-7 [15-12]
197 - Junior Jared Massey (No. 1, AUG) major dec. junior Tony Willaert (SJU), 14-4 [15-16]
Hwt - Senior Andy Witzel (No. 7, AUG) dec. sophomore Cody Socher (SJU), 3-2 [15-19]