Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Head to head (South Carolina)
Kayla Merritt Leads Equestrian In Dual With South Carolina
1/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Equestrian
Jan. 24, 2005
BLYTHEWOOD, S.C.- The Fresno State equestrian team dropped a 1052.54-924.275 decision in a head-to-head competition with South Carolina over the weekend at One Wood Farm in Blythewood, S.C.
Senior Kayla Merritt earned the highest score in the Horsemanship division, totaling 60 points to win the event. Merritt, Fresno State's only individual event winner on the afternoon, also remains undefeated in both Intermediate and Novice competition.
South Carolina recorded victories in all four divisions (Equitation, Horsemanship, Equitation over Fences and Reining) en route to the victory.
"Despite the conditions, I thought our riders did an outstanding job," said assistant coach Trista Armstrong. "South Carolina is a good program so I was very happy with the way we performed."
In the Horsemanship division, Merritt notched the top score in a field of eight competitors. South Carolina's Allison Bradley finished with 59 points to lead the Gamecocks to a 229-220.5 victory in the event. Junior Brenna Burris placed fifth for Fresno State.
South Carolina continued with a 302-248 victory in Equitation. Freshman Anne Schroeder was the Bulldog's top rider in the event with 60 points. The Gamecocks picked up a close 227.54-219.775 decision in Reining, led by Laura Pipkin's individual title. Freshman Sarah Barnes took third overall in the division with a score of 63.825, while Merritt placed fourth at 58.83 in her event debut.
South Carolina also locked up a 294-236 victory in Equitation over Fences, led by Tara Brothers and Kristin Terebesi tying for first. Fresno State's top rider was Schroeder, who finished fourth with 68 points.
Fresno State is back in action Feb. 20-21, when the Bulldogs host a Double English and Double Western show on consecutive days.
