South Carolina Topped by Auburn

AUBURN, Ala. – No. 9 South Carolina (0-5, 0-2 SEC) dropped a tough 11-8 decision to No. 1 Auburn (4-1, 2-0 SEC) on Friday. In the loss, senior Trinity Hammerschmidt earned Most Outstanding Performer honors on the flat and the Gamecocks earned the most points at Auburn for the first time since 2014. 
 
In fences, Auburn quickly pulled ahead, but its three points would not go unanswered. Sophomore Alexa Aurelianocontinued to perform this season, scoring an 84 and earning the first point for South Carolina. Senior Mackenzie Suffy followed up with another point after earning an 81 to close out fences. At the end of the event, Auburn led South Carolina 3-2.
 
In Horsemanship, senior Alexa Thorpe was the lone Gamecock to earn a point. With a score of 77.5 on Soxy, Thorpe brought the halftime score to South Carolina three, Auburn seven.
 
The second half featured events on the flat and in reining. The Gamecocks earned two points on the flat, starting with freshman Sophie Mitchell. She scored a 78.5 on Faye to earn South Carolina’s fourth point of the day.
 
Claiming the next point for the Gamecocks, Trinity Hammerschmidt and Rex scored a 79.5. Hammerschmidt was awarded M.O.P. honors for her ride, marking her second M.O.P. of the season.
 
In reining, Chloe Stephenson brought in the first point in the event for South Carolina with a score of 70. Senior Sloane Vogt followed with a score of 67, awarding yet another point to the Gamecocks. Taking the last point of the meet, Emma Lane‘s 68 on Goose helped the Gamecocks come out on top in reining 3-1. This marked the first time since the 2016-17 season that South Carolina took reining in consecutive meets.
 
After all the scores were tallied, South Carolina earned eight points while Auburn earned 11. The eight Gamecock points were the most they scored against Auburn in any regular season meet since 2017.
 
No. 9 South Carolina will close out its fall season when they travel to No. 2 Georgia on November 13.