Gamecocks Head to the Semis!!

OCALA, FL – The fifth-seeded Gamecocks kept the upsets rolling, taking down the four seed of TCU in the first round of the NCEA Championship on Thursday, 13-6. South Carolina’s appearance in the semifinals will be their first since the 2018-19 season. The meet was highlighted by a 10-0 sweep by the Jumping Seat squad, marking the first time the discipline has set a clean sheet since the 2011-12 season (vs. Baylor, Feb. 26).

“We came out with a purpose,” head coach Carol Gwin said. “We want to show that we are here as the winners of the SEC championships and we didn’t just get lucky, we deserve to be here.  I am so proud of what this team has accomplished this year and I am looking forward to competing tomorrow.”

HOW IT HAPPENED

The day got started in Fences, where the Gamecocks made things 5-0 to give South Carolina a hot start. Bella Primavera scored the first point of the day, winning 82.7-74.7 on Sampson, followed by Alexa Aureliano’s 86.3-79.7 victory on Kobe. Grace Rabb kept it rolling with her 74-36 win on Kalvert, with Natalie Jayne taking her point 86.7-84.3 next. Amira Kettaneh finished out the event with an 84-80 win on Hardy to give the Gamecocks a clean sheet.

Over in Reining, Chloe VanStone (68.7-67.7) and Olivia Cardi (71.7-61) each picked up points for the Gamecocks to make things 8-3 at the half after the Horned Frogs responded with the remaining three points in the event.

The Gamecocks opened the second half on the Flat. Mary Hunter Millet began with her point on Dash, 79.3-78.7, followed by Sophie Mitchell taking hers 87.7-79 to mark the highest score of the day in the event. Natalie Jayne got it done on Bentley, taking her point 85.7-84, with Amira Kettaneh following suit with an 83-77.3 win on Trey. Sarah Rabb rounded things out with an 82.7-78.3 win on Hardy to complete the sweep.

The day finished in Horsemanship, with TCU taking the event 3-1. Carly Jenkins earned the lone point for the Gamecocks, 74.2-72.2 on Olive.

UP NEXT

South Carolina will face No. 1 seed SMU in the NCEA semifinal meet on Friday, April 18 at 9:00 a.m.