March 26, 2010
| Alex Arute (153-138 win in Equitation Over Fences) |
| Alex Haskell (133-131 win in Equitation on the Flat) |
| Amanda Pope (127-121.5 win in Reining) |
AUBURN, Ala. – The fifth-ranked Gamecock equestrian team lost 14-5 to No. 2 Auburn in the opening competition of the 2010 Southern Equestrian Championships on Friday. Auburn advances to the championship competition, where the Tigers will face No. 1 Georgia on Saturday at 10 a.m.
The Gamecocks overall record is now 6-6 as the team gets ready for next month’s Varsity Equestrian National Championships, hosted by Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
Auburn won all four events on Friday, sweeping all four MVP honors as well.
In equitation, senior Alex Haskell and sophomore Colvin Hedgepeth combined to score the Gamecocks only two points. Haskell defeated Auburn’s Maggie McAlary 133-131, while Hedgepeth defeated Chelsea Anheuser 126-117. Auburn won the event 3-2.
In equitation over fences, freshman Alex Arute scored the only Gamecock point, defeating Auburn’s Ali Loprete 153-138. Arute’s victory improved her record to 6-1. The Tigers won equitation over fences 3-1, as senior Nicole Bourgeois tied Auburn’s Dottie Grubb with a score of 157.
In horsemanship, the Gamecocks fell 4-1, with sophomore Maggie Fortune scoring the lone South Carolina point. She defeated Auburn’s Kristin Hansen 150-138. The Tigers won horsemanship 4-1.
In reining, freshman Amanda Pope defeated Lyndsey Jordan 127-120.5. Her point was the only one scored by the reining team, as Auburn won the event 4-1.
