AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 2 Auburn equestrian team earned it's fifth-straight win over a top 10 opponent Friday afternoon, defeating No. 7 South Carolina by a score of 14-4 at the Auburn University Equestrian Center.
"The team rode great today," head coach Jessica Braswell said. "Coaches Taylor Searles and Emma Kurtz had them ready and we were all very happy with the performances. It was a mistake-free day. There was definitely some pressure before the second half, but they put their foot on the pedal and went for it."
The Western corps came to compete and didn't drop a point between Reining and Horsemanship, going 9-0-1.
"Not dropping a point is huge for the Western squad," Braswell said. "We've been working on having clean rides and they did that today."
After holding a slim 5-3 lead at intermission, Auburn flexed its muscles in the second half and went 9-1-0 between Fences and Horsemanship.
Auburn Horsemanship swept the Gamecocks with a 5-0-0 mark. Freshman Brooke Jolstad led off with a 75.5-73 win before sophomore Alexia Tordoff bested her opponent, 77.5-75, taking MOP. Freshman Alexis Potts scored a 75 in her victory, while sophomore Caroline Fredenburg earned a 76 to take the win. Senior Madison Parduhn completed the sweep, edging Kiersten Beckner, 76.5-76.
The Gamecocks took the first point in Fences before the Tigers won the final four matches to go 4-1-0 in the event. Fifth year Ava Stearns put together an 85-61 win and was followed by a career-high 90 from Grace Pearson. The senior bested her opponent by 10 points.
Senior Ellie Ferrigno bested Madeline Schaefer, 88-75, to remain undefeated in the event. Junior Sophee Steckbeck closed out Fences with an 90-89 edge, winning MOP.
Auburn picked up four wins from Reining in the first half of the meet.
Sophomore Caroline Buchanan led off with her MOP victory to remain unbeaten, scoring a 72.5. Her sister and senior Kate Buchanan followed with a 72-71.5 edge, while senior Isabella Tesmer improved to 5-0-0 on the year with a 71-70.5 win. Senior Olivia Marino edged Mattie McNeill, 70-69.5, and Tordoff finished with a 71.5-71.5 tie to help the Reining corps go 4-0-1.
The Tigers got a point in Flat from sophomore Baylee Mckeever, 88-87.
Auburn closes out the fall with a road trip to Texas, taking on No. 4 Texas A&M (Nov. 10) and No. 3 SMU (Nov. 11).
#2 AUBURN 14, #7 SOUTH CAROLINA 4
FENCES
Jordan Allen (SC) def. Mary-Grace Segars (AU), 83-81
Ava Stearns (AU) def. Alexa Aureliano (SC), 85-61
Grace Pearson (AU) def. Natalie Jayne (SC), 90-80
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def. Madeline Schaefer (SC), 88-75
Sophee Steckbeck (AU)* def. Sophie Mitchell (SC), 90-89
FLAT
Baylee Mckeever (AU) def. Mary Hunter Millet (SC), 88-87
Ellie Beard (SC) def. Ellie Ferrigno (AU), 90-89
Mary-Grace Segars (AU) tied Sarah Rabb (SC), 91-91
Natalie Jayne (SC) def. Ava Stearns (AU), 88-85
Sophie Mitchell (SC)* def. Sophee Steckbeck (AU), 89-85
HORSEMANSHIP
Brooke Jolstad (AU) def. Ruby Voortmeyer (SC), 75.5-73
Alexia Tordoff (AU)* def. Alyssa Jipping (SC), 77.5-75
Alexis Potts (AU) def. Jenna Berghorst (SC), 75-72.5
Caroline Fredenburg (AU) def. Tierney Horton (SC), 76-74.5
Madison Parduhn (AU) def. Kiersten Beckner (SC), 76.5-76
REINING
Caroline Buchanan (AU)* def. Chloe Stephenson (SC), 72.5-0
Kate Buchanan (AU) def. Emilia Reutimann (SC), 72-71.5
Isabella Tesmer (AU) def. Emma Lane (SC), 71-70.5
Olivia Marino (AU) def. Mattie Mitchell (SC), 70-69.5
Alexia Tordoff (AU) tied Haley Turner (SC), 71.5-71.5