HAMPTON, Va. - Despite a pair of upset victories, the Virginia Tech wrestling squad was eliminated from the Virginia Duals Saturday evening after falling to seventh-seeded Kent State, 21-12.

Chris Diaz got the Hokies on the board at 141 pounds when he upset 14^th-ranked Drew Lashaway, 5-3, in the second tiebreaker. The two went to overtime tied at one and both scored an escape in the first overtime after neither could score in the sudden victory. After a second sudden victory went scoreless, Lashaway escaped early in the 30-second period. But Diaz converted a takedown late to go up 4-3. Lashaway let Diaz up to start the last 30-second period to make it 5-3, but couldn't get a takedown, leaving Diaz victorious.

Tech's other upset came at 184 pounds when Tommy Spellman held off a late cradle on the edge to upset 20^th-seeded Eric Chine, 4-3. After a scoreless first period, Chine chose the bottom position, but Spellman turned him for a two-point nearfall. Chine eventually escaped and Spellman chose neutral to start the third period. Spellman got a takedown midway through, but Chine reversed him right into a cradle with under 30 seconds left. But Spellman wouldn't budge off his stomach, fighting hard not to get turned, and time ran out.

Tech fell behind 6-0 after the first two matches. At 125 pounds, Justin Staylor led Nicolas Bedlyon 4-2 heading to the third stanza, but gave up a reversal and two, three-point nearfalls to drop a 10-4 decision. At 133 pounds, Nick Murray led 3-2 heading the final period, but 13^th-ranked Dan Mitcheff got an escape and late takedown to win 5-3.

After Diaz got Tech on the board, Matt Rosen tied it up with a 4-2 decision over Clint Sponseller at 149 pounds. Neither wrestler scored in the first two periods, but Rosen got an escape to start the third. Sponseller took him down, but Rosen got a reversal and a riding time point to win 4-2.

Matt Epperly led 16^th-ranked Kurt Gross 4-1 early in the second period of the 165-pound bout, but couldn't hold on and lost 6-5. At 174 pounds, 19^th-ranked Eric Decker gutted out a 5-3 win over Chris Estep and Spellman's win tied the match at 12 with two matches left.

But Michael Blackwell all but sealed things for the Golden Flashes at 197 pounds when he pinned Tech's Kevin O'Connor at the 1:40 mark. David Marone fought hard at heavyweight, but gave away about 65 pounds to 17^th-ranked Jermail Porter and lost 7-3.

Tech finishes the Duals 2-2, its second-best performance ever. The Hokies now stand at 4-3 on the season and travel to No. 21 Maryland Saturday in Tech's ACC opener. Match time is set for 2 p.m.

No. 7 seed Kent State   21
Virginia Tech           12

125: Nicolas Bedelyon (KSU) dec. Justin Staylor, 10-4
133: #13 Dan Mitcheff (KSU) dec. Nick Murray, 5-3
141: Chris Diaz (VT) dec. #14 Drew Lashaway, 5-3 (TB2)
149: Matt Rosen (VT) dec. Clint Sponseller, 4-2
157: Nick Dierkes (KSU) dec. Mark Czarny, 3-1
165: #16 Kurt Gross (KSU) dec. Matt Epperly, 6-5
174: #19 Eric Decker (VT) dec. Chris Estep, 5-3
184: Tommy Spellman (VT) dec. #20 Eric Chine, 4-3
197: Michael Blackwell (KSU) fall Kevin O'Connor, 1:40
285: #17 Jermail Porter (KSU) dec. David Marone, 7-3