Oct. 8, 2015

MEET INFORMATION
WHO:	No. 2 South Carolina vs. No. 4 Auburn
WHEN:	Friday, Oct. 9 • 2 p.m. ET
LOCATION:	Blythewood, S.C. • One Wood Farm
ADMISSION:	Free
LIVE SCORING:	Click Here
	@GamecockEQ
	@GamecockEQ

COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 2 South Carolina begins SEC play on Friday, when the Gamecocks host No. 4 Auburn at One Wood Farm in Blythewood. Friday’s meet will begin at 2 p.m. ET and admission is free.

“First off, our thoughts and prayers are with everybody across the state of South Carolina right now,” South Carolina head coach Boo Major said. “I think our first responders and government officials have done a tremendous job of keeping all of us safe and we are extremely grateful for their efforts and the work they’ve been doing. As a lifelong resident of the midlands and Richland County, it’s been very uplifting for me to see the community come together and help out those in need during this difficult time. Even though the road to recovery will be long, I believe our community will be stronger in the long run. We are fortunate that our facility held up very well during the storm, and after several discussions with our administration, coach Williams at Auburn, and the SEC office – we decided that it would be best for us stay on-schedule and host the meet on Friday.”

SCOUTING SOUTH CAROLINA
• The Gamecocks are 2-0 on the season.
• South Carolina is currently ranked No. 2 in the NCEA Rankings.
• The Gamecocks have not lost a home meet since Georgia defeated South Carolina, 11-9, on Oct. 3, 2014.
• Carolina has won 11 of its last 12 regular season meets.
• After Friday’s meet against the Tigers, seven of the Gamecocks’ next 10 meets will be on the road.

SCOUTING AUBURN
• The Tigers are 1-0 on the season.
• Auburn is currently ranked No. 4 in the NCEA Rankings.
• The Tigers defeated South Carolina, 13-6, in the last meeting between the two teams on Mar. 28 in the consolation round at the SEC Championship.
• Three of Auburn’s next five meets will take place at home.

NCEA TEAM RANKINGS – OCT. 6, 2015
1. Georgia (3-0)
2. South Carolina (2-0)
3. Baylor (0-0)
4. Auburn (1-0)
5. Fresno State (1-1)
6. Oklahoma State (1-0)
7. Texas A&M (0-1)
8. TCU (1-1)
9. New Mexico State (1-0)
10. SMU (0-3)

LAST MEETING
The Gamecocks and Tigers last met in the consolation round of the 2015 SEC Championship on Mar. 28. Auburn claimed its first win over South Carolina since Feb. 14, 2013, defeating the Gamecocks, 13-6. The Tigers won all four events to take a third place finish. Auburn went on to lose to Georgia in the semifinals at the national championship, and the Gamecocks defeated Georgia to claim their third national title.

LAST MEETING IN BLYTHEWOOD
The Gamecocks defeated Auburn, 11-7, in the two team’s last meeting in Blythewood, on Feb. 28, 2015. Auburn edged the Gamecocks, 5-4, in hunt seat action, but South Carolina’s western team upended the Tigers, 7-2. The Gamecocks won 3-of-4 MVP awards as Adele Norton (equitation on the flat), Katherine Schmidt (equitation over fences), and Kelsey Urban (horsemanship) all claimed top honors in their respective events.

SEC RIDER OF THE MONTH
Gamecock junior Amelia Vernon became the program’s tenth rider to be named SEC Rider of the Month, as the league office announced its monthly award winners on Wednesday. Vernon was named SEC Rider of the Month in equitation on the flat, after winning her first career point and MVP in the Gamecocks’ 9-7 win at South Dakota State on Sept. 25

UP NEXT
South Carolina return to action on Oct. 29, when the Gamecocks travel to College Station to face Texas A&M. Carolina has lost its last four meets in College Station.