No. 9 South Carolina Drops Tough Decision to No. 5 Texas A&M

COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 9 South Carolina fell in a 10-8 decision to No. 5 Texas A&M on Friday. In the loss, senior Sloane Vogt and sophomore Emma Lane swept Most Outstanding Performer honors in the Western events.
 
In fences, South Carolina quickly pulled ahead of Texas A&M. Sophomore Alexa Aureliano scored an 83 on Dexter to earn the first point of the meet. Nina Columbia‘s score of 84 and Madeline Schaefer‘s score of 77 brought in the next two points for the Gamecocks who took fences 3-1. The fifth point in the event was not awarded after Mackenzie Suffyearned an 84 and tied her Aggie opponent.
 
The Gamecocks continued to shine in reining, with Emilia Reutimann‘s 72 securing the first point in the event. South Carolina picked up another point when Graycen Hess and Nike earned a 70.5. Highlighting the event, Emma Lane secured the top score of the day with a 73.5 to earn her first M.O.P. honor of the season.
 
Going into halftime, the Gamecocks led 6-3.
 
The second half got started with equitation on the flat, in which the Aggies claimed four points. Senior Trinity Hammerschmidt was the lone Gamecock to earn a point when she scored an 85 on Murphy. Texas A&M took the flat 4-1 and began to pull ahead of South Carolina.
 
In horsemanship, Cora Wyers started off strong with a 75.5 on Tulip but was tied by her Texas A&M opponent. Earning the only point in the event for South Carolina, Sloane Vogt scored a 77.5 on Z to earn her first M.O.P. of the season. The Aggies took horsemanship 3-1 and brought the final score to Texas A&M 10, South Carolina 8.
 
No. 9 South Carolina will be back in action on October 29 when they travel to No. 1 Auburn for the Gamecocks’ second SEC matchup of the season.