BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. — A comeback victory over South Dakota State and a pair of most outstanding performance nods highlighted Sweet Briar's two-meet trip to One Wood Farm on Friday.
The Vixens finished the day with a 4-3 win over South Dakota State, after host and fifth-ranked South Carolina won 7-2 in the morning session.
In the Vixens' second jumping seat event of the day, the Vixens opened with a point from junior Lily Peterson (Ashland, Va.) as she rode Mack to a 79, topping South Dakota State's Claire Garduno.
The Jackrabbits picked up three points in fences, with a pair of one-point victories as Sweet Briar first-year Sophie Kane (Carbondale, Colo.) was edged 70-69 by Jessica Martinez on Toby and junior Katie Balding (Williamsburg, Va.) was topped 77-76 by Samantha Hunsecker on Kenny.
Sweet Briar charged back on the flat as Peterson led off with a 64-56 win on Cita. Kane countered South Dakota State's Hayley Kastrup's 77 with a 77 of her own on Batman, to split the second available flat team point. Balding's 63 on Joe held for the Vixens' third team point, but it was sophomore Maggie Fraley (White Haven, Pa.) who dazzled the judges to help the Vixens secure victory.
Riding Tattoo after her opponent scored a 79 in the opening round of flat, Fraley rode to Most Outstanding Performer honors with an 80 as Sweet Briar clinched the narrow 4-3 victory.
The opening event of the day, saw host No. 5 South Carolina earn a 7-2 team victory.
Balding earned the Vixens a point over fences as she rode Mack to an 81-76 victory over Madeline Schaefer, earning Balding the honor of Most Outstanding Performer over fences.
Over fences, Peterson scored 73 on Redford, sophomore Charlotte Hadley (Tiverton, R.I.) rode Tattoo to a 70, Kane scored a 72 on Batman and Fraley tallied a 71 on Joe.
Flat saw Kane score the Vixens' highest score of the entire day when she won a team point for Sweet Briar with an 84-82 win on Toby. Fraley earned a tie against the Gamecocks' Caroline Bald with a 69 on Kenny, while sophomore Britt Larson-Jackson (Washington, D.C.) scored a 54 on Glen.
Hadley rode to a 60 on Quentin and Balding posted a 78 on Cal to close out the Vixens' flat lineup against South Carolina.
Against South Carolina, Balding earned MOP over fences, while the Gamecocks' Tyler Petrie earned the flat nod. Fraley was the flat MOP against South Dakota State, as the Jackrabbits' Katrup was recognized for her performance over fences.
Sweet Briar concludes the regular season on March 6 with a home meet against New Paltz.
