No. 3 Gamecocks Fall to No. 1 Auburn

BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. – The No. 3 University of South Carolina equestrian team opened its season on Friday, falling to the No. 1 Auburn Tigers 14-5 at OneWood Farm. 

Though the score appears lopsided, the Gamecocks (0-1-0, 0-1-0 SEC) tallied strong scores, just not strong enough to end Auburn’s (1-0-0, 1-0-0 SEC) now 35-meet winning streak.

The day started on the flat where junior Caroline Bald got the first Carolina point of the day with her 69-point ride on Toby. Junior Kit Cunningham got in on the scoring with her 75-point ride on Glen, but Auburn held a 3-2 advantage after the action on the flat wrapped up. 

Freshman Chloe Stephenson got things started on the right foot in reining by winning her debut matchup with a 74.5 on Stoner. The Garnet and Black continued to ride hard in reining, with junior Graycen Hess notching a 74.5, senior McKenzie Duncan tallying a 74 and junior Sloane Vogt putting up a 74.5, but all three of them fell to their Auburn opponents by a lone point each. Freshman Emma Lane earned a tie in her debut with her 73-point ride on Sparky as Carolina went into the halftime break trailing 6-3. 

The Gamecocks had their hands full in over fences with the Tigers taking the first four points, but junior Trinity Hammerschmidt made sure the Garnet and Black avoided the sweep. The Montpelier, Va. Native earned her point with an 86-point ride on Tattoo to notch her first SEC over fences win as Carolina stared down a 10-4 deficit with the points in horsemanship still up for grabs. 

Auburn sealed its win by taking the first two points in horsemanship, but the Gamecocks kept fighting. Junior Alexa Thorpe earned her first career win with a 78 on Paddy, but it wasn’t enough as Auburn went 4-1 in horsemanship and handed the Garnet and Black a 14-5 loss. 

The Gamecocks look to harness the momentum from the high scores as they head down to Bryan-College Station, Texas for a clash with Texas A&M on Nov. 5.