No. 9 South Carolina Drops Tough 10-9 Decision to No. 7 Fresno State

FRESNO, Calif. – No. 9 South Carolina came up short against No. 7 Fresno State on Friday at the Student Horse Center in a closely contested meet. The Gamecocks notably took reining 3-2 and held the Bulldogs at a 2-2 tie in horsemanship.
 
South Carolina had a strong performance in the horsemanship event. Kiersten Beckner and Sloane Vogt earned points for the Gamecocks with scores of 76 and 75.5, respectively. Senior Alexa Thorpe earned the highest score in the event with a 77 but was tied by her competitor from Fresno State and no point was awarded.
 
Sophomore Alexa Aureliano had the best performance of her collegiate career in the equitation over fences and scored an 89 on Dublin. This score topped her previous career best of 80, which she set in the meet against UC Davis on Thursday.
 
The only other Gamecock to earn a point in equitation over fences, Nina Columbia scored a 77 on Happy. The event was a tight contest, but the Bulldogs prevailed and took fences 3-2.
 
South Carolina performed its best in the reining event, winning 3-2. Sloane Vogt, Emma Lane and Alexa Thorpe brought in the three points for the Gamecocks with scores of 69.5, 70.5 and 69, respectively.
 
The meet came down to the wire with the equitation on the flat. The first two points of the event went to the Bulldogs, but the Gamecocks fought back. Senior Trinity Hammerschmidt earned a 79 on Santo to award South Carolina its eighth point, trailing to Fresno State’s nine. Soon after, the Bulldogs clinched the meet with a score of 87.5 on the flat. Alice Kass still earned the final point for the Gamecocks, bringing the total score to South Carolina 9, Fresno State 10.
 
No. 9 South Carolina will begin its meet against No. 6 TCU Friday evening with equitation over fences and horsemanship. The equitation on the flat and reining events will take place on Saturday morning to conclude the meet.