FELTON, Del. — Sweet Briar junior Katie Balding earned a pair of most outstanding performer honors as the Vixens drew even with Delaware State, but saw the Hornets escape with the victory on cumulative points at the Dovington Training Center.
Sweet Briar and Delaware State finished 4-4 on team points, with a 2-2 split between the teams on flat and fences, but the hosts edged Sweet Briar 630-628 on raw score.
Sophomore Maggie Fraley (White Haven, Pa.) got the competition started with an 85 on flat, riding Lophius. Fraley's counterpart, Sydney Wicklund scored an 80, giving Fraley the Vixens' first point of the day.
After first-year Sophia Kane (Carbondale, Colo.) dropped an 82-74 decision to Erin Gordon on Danali and junior Lily Peterson (Ashland, Va.) was edged 79-77, the Vixens looked to Balding (Williamsburg, Va.) as the final flat rider of the day.
Balding saw her Delaware State opponent, Zoe Kirsch, ride Finn to an 87 and posted an impressive ride to score an 88 and earn a second flat point for the Vixens.
Fences opened with Kersch earning a 75-72 win over Kane and Wicklund picking up a 77-70 win against Fraley.
Balding's second MOP nod came next, as she countered Gabrielle Fournier's 77 on PJ with an 82 of her own.
Sweet Briar's final point came when Peterson's 80 on Patton, held up against Gordon's 73.
Sweet Briar's match with Delaware State was the Vixens' final event of the fall season. Sweet Briar will next compete on January 31, 2020 in Blythewood, S.C. against the South Carolina Gamecocks and South Dakota State Jackrabbits.
