The Panthers won their first dual match of the season, but dropped two matches against nationally ranked opponents Sunday at the Central Michigan Open in Mt. Pleasant, Mich.

Eastern defeated unranked Gardner-Webb 27-15, picking up its first dual win of the season.

Eastern managed to win all but four matches against Webb, with one of those losses being a forfeit.

197-weight class wrestler Jason Sherko did not wrestle today – all four of his matches a forfeit.

Eastern dropped a 39-6 match to No. 7 Central Michigan and No. 18 Tennessee-Chattanooga defeated the Panthers 48-6.

Junior Greg Perz, who had a 17-5 record coming into today’s event, was also one of the four losses to Webb, losing a 7-2 decision to Brandon Beach.

The only team the Panthers did not face at the Open was Cal Poly, who wrestled only the two ranked teams.

The biggest surprise of the day came against UT-Chattanooga. The only victory for the Panthers in that match was by Joe Trinka, who won by forfeit.

Senior Kenny Robertson, at 174 pounds, and Perz were both pinned in their matches. Robertson fell at 6:57, the first time he’s been pinned this year. Perz was pinned at 3:34.

Perz’s only other time being pinned this year was at the Northern Iowa Open by John Dergo, currently ranked No. 15 at 184-pound weight class.

Eastern gets back into action with next Saturday with a home match against McKendree. The match starts at 7 p.m.