South Dakota State turned the tide with three victories in flat to post a 10-7 victory over 10th-ranked UT Martin in head-to-head equestrian competition Saturday afternoon at the DeHaan Equestrian Center.
With the victory, the Jackrabbits completed a perfect weekend to start the season with a 2-0 record both overall and against ECAC opponents. UT Martin evened its record at 1-1.
Tied at five wins apiece at the halfway mark, the Jackrabbits took a two-point lead with three wins in flat, starting with a 68-62 victory by Sierra Elliott over Audrey Morris. Isabelle Malick added a point with a 79-point ride on Elton and Kayla Scherer tallied another point with her 70-point ride on Annie.
Juliana Gullo and Brianna Marks of UT Martin tied with scores of 61 in their matchup aboard Nemo.
Two matchups in the reining finale also resulted in ties the Jackrabbits' Emma Riggs (71.5 points) and Maryn Mead (69.5) battled to draws. However, SDSU sealed the victory with point-producing rides from Most Outstanding Performer Lillie Wallis (71) and Adisyn Kuxhaus (70).
SDSU claimed both MOP awards in the front half of the competition as Malick tallied a meet-high 83 points in a win over Kat DeGenova in fences. Kendyl Rudolf (79) and Juliana Gullo (55) also earned victories for the Jackrabbits in fences.
The Skyhawks evened the competition with three wins in horsemanship. Avery Bergan put together an MOP performance with a winning score of 75.5 on Colby, while Hailey Hanson came through with a one-point win, 70.5-69.5, aboard Chili.
UP NEXT
The Jackrabbits go on the road for an Oct. 10 matchup at Fresno State.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 10, UT MARTIN 7
Fences
Averey Pritchard (UTM) def. Sarah Gould (SDSU), 78-77 [Thomas] Kendyl Rudolf (SDSU) def. Audrey Morris (UTM), 79-76 [Charlie] Juliana Gullo (SDSU) def. Daphne Stavig (UTM), 55-54 [Mambo]
*Isabelle Malick (SDSU) def. Kat DeGenova (UTM), 83-80 [Archie]
Kate Mills (UTM) def. Heidi White (SDSU), 76-75 [Sunday] Flat
*Shelby Davis (UTM) def. Elizabeth Wagner (SDSU), 80-75 [Chase] Sierra Elliott (SDSU) def. Audrey Morris (UTM), 68-62 [Leo] Isabelle Malick (SDSU) def. Kat DeGenova (UTM), 79-67 [Elton] Juliana Gullo (SDSU) tied Brianna Marks (UTM), 61-61 [Nemo] Kayla Scherer (SDSU) def. Lydia Jordan (UTM), 70-65 [Annie]
Demo: Heidi White (SDSU), 74/79 [Vita] Horsemanship
Ruby Gunderson (UTM) def. Anna Minich (SDSU), 73.5-70.5 [Louie]
*Avery Bergan (SDSU) def. Kailyn Veale (UTM), 75.5-75 [Colby]
Olivia Wynn (UTM) def. Grace Gerbus (SDSU), 74.5-69.5 [Knight] Hailey Hanson (SDSU) def. Ava Newsom (UTM), 70.5-69.5 [Chili]
Claire Carpenter (UTM) def. Brighton McBride (SDSU), 74.5-73 [Milo]
Demo: Kathleen Schmitz (SDSU), 71.5/71 [Marley] Reining
*Lillie Wallis (SDSU) def. Stevie Brown (UTM), 71-69.5 [JoJo]
Abby Tibbets (UTM) def. Hailey Hanson (SDSU), 69-67.5 [Lash] Emma Riggs (SDSU) tied Elise Mason (UTM), 71.5-71.5 [Snoop] Adisyn Kuxhaus (SDSU) def. Payton Bundy (UTM), 70-66.5 [Bullitt] Maryn Mead (SDSU) tied Claire Carpenter (UTM), 69.5-69.5 [Aggie] Notes: * denotes Most Outstanding Performer (MOP); horse's name in brackets