FRESNO - The No. 10 Fresno State equestrian team downed the No. 4-ranked Baylor 10-8 on Saturday afternoon at the Student Horse Center. The Bulldogs won three of the four events in a meet that came down to the wire. The last time the Bulldogs defeated the Bears was Feb. 17, 2017 with a 10-10 final that turned to a 1458-1456.5 raw score final in Fresno State's favor. The last time Fresno State defeated Baylor by points was on Feb. 22, 2014 when the 'Dogs topped the Bears 10-5 at the Student Horse Center.
"We needed this win today," said head coach Eric Hubbard. "It has been a tough Fall for us. We are a young team that is full of talent that is still working out the kinks. I am very proud of our team and our MOPs from today. This is a great place to be as we head into our break."
Fresno State split its weekend and finishes the fall slate with a 2-5 record.
How it Happened
The morning got started with Equitation Over Fences and Horsemanship. The 'Dogs were off to a hot start with a 4-1 win in the Fences event. Fresno State won back-to-back points as junior Erica Rosinski outrode her opponent 76-73 and freshman Cecily Hayes defeated her opponent 87-84 for the highest score of the event and her highest Fences ride of the season. Hayes earned the Fences MOP on Saturday.
Baylor earned the following point but Fresno State answered back with the finishing pair. Sophomore Hailey Livingston won the third point with a career-best 76-59 ride. Senior Alexandra Dirickson sealed the event with a 66-63 ride over Sarah Boston.
In the Horsemanship, Fresno State outscored Baylor 3-1 with high-scoring rides across the board. Redshirt sophomore Nicole Campbell picked up the Bulldogs' first point with a 73.5-71 ride over Abbi Demel. Campbell's victory against the NCEA and Big 12 Horsemanship Rider of the Month earned her the MOP in the event for her second of the weekend and fourth of the season.
Taeya Harle earned a point for the 'Dogs in her final Horsemanship ride of her career. The senior edged her Baylor opponent 73-72.5. The Bears earned their only point of the event with a 74-73 ride. Freshman Brooklyn Moch rode for a season-best 75.5 to top her opponent's 71.5 in Fresno State's third point. Sophomore Alexis Miller tied in her ride against Katie Davis.
At the intermission, Fresno State had a 7-2 lead.
Baylor swept the Equitation on the Flat, 5-0. With the Flat completed, the meet was tied at seven a piece and the final score would come down to the last few Reining rides.
The Bulldogs impressed with a 3-1 showing in the Reining with three personal-best scores. Freshman Lexee Padrick opened up with a 73.5 tie against Kaylynn DeBernard and Baylor followed with a point of their own. Senior Kara Gustafson rode for a career-best 76 to outscore Baylor's Abbi Demel's 75 to tie the meet at eight. Gustafson earned the MOP for her ride in Reining.
Junior Shea Gilson earned her second point of the weekend on a 73.5-72.5 ride which put Fresno State on top, 9-8.
Freshman Addison Wellman scored an event-high 76.5 and Baylor's Carly Salter was unable to match that in her ride. Wellman's Reining point put the 'Dogs on top at the end of the meet.
UP NEXT: Fresno State has completed its fall competitions and is back in action on Feb. 1 and Feb. 2, hosting Auburn and Delaware State at the Student Horse Center.
2018-19 Bulldogs
Equitation Over Fences (12-20)
Hana Bieling: 2-5
Erica Rosinski: 2-4
Alexandra Dirickson: 4-3, 1 MOP
Cecily Hayes: 1-6, 1 MOP
Aliva Hart: 0-1
Frannie Twohig: 0-2
Hailey Livingston: 2-0
Equitation on the Flat (8-24)
Brooke Nelson: 2-5
Hana Bieling: 0-5
Cecily Hayes: 2-4, 1 MOP
Grace Countryman: 1-4
Alexandra Dirickson: 3-3
Erica Rosinski: 0-2
Frannie Twohig: 0-1
Reining (11-16-5)
Paige Barton: 4-3
Shea Gilson: 2-4-1, 1 MOP
Lexee Padrick: 2-3-2
Kara Gustafson: 2-3-1, 1 MOP
Addison Welman: 1-1
Allison Nordvall: 0-2-1
Horsemanship (12-17-3)
Taeya Harle: 2-4
Julia Kelly: 0-1
Kameron Thorn: 2-4-1
Nicole Campbell: 4-3, 4 MOP
Hannah Buijs: 1-3-1
Alexis Miller: 0-2-1
Brooklyn Moch: 3-0
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