WACO, Texas – The No. 2 Auburn equestrian team was too much for No. 7 Baylor on Friday afternoon, besting the Bear with a 16-3 win on the road in Waco. The Tigers swept both Fences and Reining to bookend the meet, moving to 2-0 overall in the early season.
"I'm so proud of their performance today," head coach Jessica Braswell said. "Coaches Emma Kurtz and Taylor Searles did such an outstanding job having the team prepared. We talked about bringing the home momentum on the road and they definitely accomplished that today."
Auburn once again swept the Most Outstanding Performer honors, taking all four events. Juniors Sophee Steckbeck and Mary-Grace Segars earned MOP honors in Fences and Flat, respectively. Sophomore Alexia Tordoff took both Horsemanship and Reining MOPs for the squad.
"I really think that our depth is going to be our strength this season," Braswell said. "We have a lot of depth throughout the lineup in all four events and every athlete is capable of pulling a big ride. We saw signs of that today."
The Tigers opened the day with a sweep in Fences, marking the second-straight meet the squad has captured all five points in the event.
Senior Ellie Ferrigno kicked things off with an 86-84 victory and was followed by Steckbeck's MOP win, 88-84. Segars downed Lauren Reid, 85-42, while classmate Anna Marie Mayes won her point with a career-best 87. Graduate Ava Stearns closed out the sweep with an 87-86 edge.
Horsemanship followed with a 3-1-1 mark vs. Baylor, seeing big scores from underclassmen. Freshman Sydney Swallom put up a big ride to start the event, tying her opponent's 74. Sophomore Caroline Fredenburg followed with a 71-70.5 edge over Gia Pozzi, while freshman Alexis Potts bested Anna Thron, 72.5-68.5. Tordoff faced a 74 from her opponent, riding last in the event. The Powell, Ohio product pulled off the win with a 74.5 to take the point for the Tigers and MOP.
The Flat corps finished out the Jumping Seat side of competition, going 3-2 against the Bears. After the home team took the first point, Segars earned a 91 in her huge win for the Tigers and bested her opponent's 90 for MOP. Stearns followed with an 89-88 edge and Ferrigno capped the event with an 81-75 victory.
Auburn's Reining crew concluded the day with another sweep, besting the Bears 5-0. Tordoff picked up her second win and MOP of the day, 71.5-71, while senior Isabella Tesmer edged Sadie Peters, 69.5-69. Senior Kate Buchanan earned a 70 for a team point before her sister and freshman Caroline Buchanan bested her opponent with a 66.5. Senior Olivia Marino closed out the day with a 68-67 victory.
Auburn will continue its road swing, traveling to No. 10 UT Martin. The Tigers and the Skyhawks will face off at 10 a.m. CT on October 13 in Martin, Tennessee.
#2 AUBURN 16, #7 BAYLOR 3
FENCES
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def. Juliette Early (BU), 86-84
Sophee Steckbeck (AU) def. Madi Mitchell (BU), 88-84
Mary-Grace Segars (AU) def. Lauren Reid (BU), 85-42
Anna Marie Mayes (AU) def. Maddie Vorhies (BU), 87-83
Ava Stearns (AU) def. Lauren Jorgensen (BU), 87-86
FLAT
Madi Mitchell (BU) def. Sophee Steckbeck (AU), 89-85
Mary-Grace Segars (AU) def. Maddie Vorhies (BU), 91-90
Ava Stearns (AU) def. Caroline Robelen (BU), 89-88
Lauren Jorgensen (BU) def. Anna Marie Mayes (AU), 81-79
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def. Lauren Reid (BU), 81-75
HORSEMANSHIP
Sydney Swallom (AU) tied Alexis Rutledge (BU), 74-74
Caroline Fredenburg (AU) def. Gia Pozzi (BU), 71-70.5
Elsie Naruszewicz (BU) def. Madison Parduhn (AU), 71-64.5
Alexis Potts (AU) def. Anna Thron (BU), 72.5-68.5
Alexia Tordoff (AU) def. Bella Rosa (BU), 74.5-74
REINING
Alexia Tordoff (AU) def. Kalena Reynolds (BU), 71.5-71
Isabella Tesmer (AU) def. Sadie Peters (BU), 69.5-69
Kate Buchanan (AU) def. Mazie Petelski (BU), 70-69
Caroline Buchanan (AU) def. Emily Moomaw (BU), 66.5-0
Olivia Marino (AU) def. Riley Cachat (BU), 68-67