Kevin Freeman | Lariat Photographer
By Cody Soto
Sports Writer
Baylor equestrian took two important wins over No. 7 TCU and defending national champion and top-ranked Georgia on Friday and Saturday at the Willis Family Equestrian Center to stay perfect on the season.
On Friday, the Bears (6-0, 2-0 Big 12) used a 5-0 sweep in horsemanship to defeat TCU (1-1, 0-1 Big 12) for their second conference win this season. Baylor and the Horned Frogs tied in equitation on the flat, but TCU defeated the Bears in both reining and equitation over fences to keep it a close matchup. With the sweep in horsemanship, Baylor took a close 11-8 win over TCU.
Junior western Mary Brown earned two points for Baylor in reining and horsemanship with scores of 72.4 and 73, respectively. Senior hunt seat Sam Schaefer also earned points in flat and fences to give her team two of four hunt seat points against the Horned Frogs. Senior western Rachel Nankervis earned Most Outstanding Player honors with her 74.5 point performance in horsemanship.
The Bears got some rest and woke up the next morning to take on No. 1 Georgia, the team that had knocked out Baylor from the NCEA quarterfinals last year. The Bears got their revenge and took wins over the Bulldogs in equitation on the flat, equitation over fences and horsemanship to win 13-6. Georgia only took a slim 3-2 win in reining while Baylor took control of the rest.
The hunt seat team took a 7-2 advantage over the Bulldogs after big performances by Schaefer and sophomore hunter seat Savannah Jenkins in their respective events. The Bears took a 6-4 win in western to remain perfect on the season.
Schaefer earned MOP honors in equitation on the flat while Nankervis was awarded Most Outstanding player in horsemanship.
Baylor will take a break from competition and return to Big 12 play against Kansas State on Nov. 15. The meet will start at 10 a.m. at the Willis Family Equestrian Center.
