No. 8 Gamecocks Move to 4-0 After First Road Test
BROOKINGS, SD – The No. 8 South Carolina Equestrian team had its first road test of the season Friday, taking on South Dakota State and Fresno State at the DeHaas Equestrian Center. The Gamecocks swept the day, defeating the Jackrabbits 12-8, followed by the Bulldogs 12-4. South Carolina now moves to a 4-0 start to the season.
FLAT
Against SDSU, the Gamecocks defeated the Jackrabbits 4-1 in the event. Mary Hunter Millet got things started, winning her point 70-57 on Sweet Pea. Sophie Mitchell followed suit with an 80 on Mia to defeat Cali Karbler 80-77, and Ellie Beard kept things going with her huge 86-73 win on Enrique. Grace Rabb rounded out the scoring for South Carolina, putting a 74 on Fendi to defeat Virginia Klecker’s 62. Mitchell earned an MOP for her ride, the first for the junior this season.
In the following meet against the Bulldogs, South Carolina secured a 3-1 win with Millet (80-71), Beard (82-76), and Natalie Jayne (79-73) each taking their point against Fresno State.
FENCES
The Gamecocks fell in a close battle against SDSU in Fences, 3-2. Sydney DeGrazia earned her point on Lizzie with a 79-71 victory over Hannah Stelle, while co-captain Jordan Allen took her point in an impressive 13-point spread win 86-73 on Sunday. Allen earned her second MOP of the season with her win.
South Carolina bounced back against Fresno State, taking the event 3-1 over the Bulldogs. Allen swept the Fences MOPs for the day, picking up her third with an 87-77 win on Vita to get the points started. Natalie Jayne won 85-77 on Mambo, and Alexa Aureliano’s 78 on Lizzie put her on top of her Bulldog competitor.
HORSEMANSHIP
The Western side of the meet against SDSU started with a 3-2 Gamecock victory in Horsemanship. Alyssa Jipping defeated Zuerker Merritt 72.5-70 on Milo, followed by Kiersten Beckner’s impressive 75.5-72.5 win on Marshal. Beckner’s 75.5 was the highest Horsemanship score so far this season for herself and the Gamecocks, earning her a MOP for her ride. Newcomer Jenna Berghorst finished out the points for her team, winning 74-73.5 over grace Blake on Bernie.
Against Fresno State, Beckner picked up her second MOP of the day and third in a row this season, defeating Emily Maul 74.5-71.5 on Marshal. Berghorst picked up her second win of the day as well 69-63 on Roo, followed by Alyssa Jipping securing the final point of the event 74-71.5 on Marley.
REINING
South Carolina came out on top 3-2 in the event against the Jackrabbits, with Mattie McNeill earning a point and MOP – both her first of the season – with her 71-65.6 win on Aggie. Co-captain Emilia Reutimann followed suit with a 70.5-69 win on Colby, and Chloe VanStone wrapped things up by defeating Grace Blake 69-65 on Snoop.
The Gamecocks took the event 3-1 against Fresno State to finish out the day in Reining. Reutimann (71-70), Chloe Stephenson (70-67), and McNeill (68.5-67) each earned their points for South Carolina to give them the edge over the Bulldogs.
UP NEXT
The Gamecocks will hit the road again and open up SEC play against Georgia on Friday, Oct. 13 at 2:00 p.m. Fans are encouraged to follow along with in-meet updates on Twitter and Instagram @GamecockEQ.
