By Cody Soto
Sports Writer
No. 4 Baylor equestrian took a close 9-7 decision over No. 2 Oklahoma State on Saturday afternoon, winning its first Big 12 contest of the season at the Willis Family Equestrian Center.
The Bears (4-0) won 3-1 in both equitation on the flat and reining. The victory pushed them ahead after both teams tied 2-2 in equitation over fences.
The Cowgirls (1-1) took a 3-1 win in horsemanship earlier in the meet to stay in the race. Sophomore Lacy Watson was the only Bear to earn a point in the horsemanship event to avoid a sweep.
Baylor avenged last year’s loss to Oklahoma State after the Cowgirls won the Big 12 championship.
Junior hunt seat Jennifer Mitchell scored 76 points to beat out Oklahoma State’s Carly Barrick and win Most Outstanding Player honors.
Sophomore Savannah Jenkins earned two points for her performances in equitation on the flat and equitation over fences events. Junior western Mary Brown, sophomore western Elizabeth Shank and junior western Michelina Carbone added the remainder of the points in reining.
Sophomore hunt seat Alicia Gasser added a point in equitation on the flat with an impressive score of 84, the highest total in that event. Freshman hunt seat Abby Jorgensen edged Oklahoma State’s Kendall Pedigo with a 77 in equitation over fences to push Baylor to the win.
The Bears will compete in back-to-back home meets starting with another Big 12 contest against No. 7 TCU on Friday.
Baylor then faces No. 1 Georgia on Saturday and hopes to avenge its national quarterfinal loss that knocked the team out of the tournament last season. Both matches will be played at 10 a.m. in the Willis Family Equestrian Center in Waco.
