SKYHAWK EQUESTRIAN TO PLAY FOR ECAC CHAMPIONSHIP TOMORROW AFTER ROLLING TO 14-6 SEMIFINAL VICTORY OVER SOUTH DAKOTA STATE

Friday, March 24

Brookings, SD

9 a.m.

UT Martin

South Dakota State

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia Sports Media

SKYHAWK EQUESTRIAN TO PLAY FOR ECAC CHAMPIONSHIP TOMORROW AFTER ROLLING TO 14-6 SEMIFINAL VICTORY OVER SOUTH DAKOTA STATE

3/24/2023 7:03:00 PM | Equestrian

Results

BROOKINGS, SD – Sophomore Lexi Bailey corralled MOP's in both Western discipline events today to help No. 1 seed University of Tennessee at Martin roll to a 14-6 triumph over fourth-seeded South Dakota State in the Eastern College Athletic Conference semifinals held at the DeHaan Equestrian Center.

Less than 24 hours after Bailey was named as one of four members on the ECAC All-Horsemanship squad, the Union Mills, Ind. native showed out today with her second MOP of the season in horsemanship and her second MOP accolade for the 2022-23 campaign in reining.

Sydney Hott, who earned All-ECAC honors in both fences and flat herself last night, gave the Skyhawks their third MOP recipient of the meet as she nabbed top status in fences. It was the third fences MOP honor of the season for the junior from Defiance, Mo.

The UT Martin group of Bailey, Haley Kane, Julia Gilman, Emma Schaefer and Kate Davis all came away with two points apiece for the Skyhawks, who defeated the Jackrabbits for the third time this season today.

Coming into the day facing a deficit after the host South Dakota State won three of five decisions in flat on Thursday afternoon, UT Martin claimed 12 of the 15 points that were awarded today. Overall, the Skyhawks swept all five fences points, won four matchups in horsemanship, took three decisions in reining and won two matchups in flat.

In flat, Kane (64-67; 131 points) and Gilman (68-71; 139) provided UT Martin with an early 2-0 lead in the meet. However, the Jackrabbits rallied to win each of the final three points in the event. Sophia Sundem (55-42; 97), Rileigh Weiss (61-66; 127) and Hott (54-49; 103) also represented the Skyhawks in the flat lineup.

Fences was the first of three events on the docket today as UT Martin quickly reestablished momentum. Hott's 164 points (82-82) was the best in the meet as she was followed by head-to-head victories by Gilman (161; 79-82), Kane (160; 80-80), Tyler Anderson (157; 76-81) and Elizabeth Becker (159; 81-78). Overall, the Skyhawks held an 801-593 advantage in fences raw score points.

South Dakota State pulled within three points (7-4) after winning the opening decision of horsemanship but that was as close as they would get the rest of the way as UT Martin closed out the event with four unanswered victories. Davis tallied 142.5 points (70.5-72) before Bailey's MOP performance of 147 (74.5-72.5). Schaefer (71.5-72.5) and Keely Seiter (71-72.5) accumulated wins after scores of 144 and 143.5, respectively. Paige Benson was the fifth member of the Skyhawk horsemanship lineup as she managed a solid score of 143.5 (71-72.5).

Bailey's MOP effort of 142.5 points (71-71.5) opened UT Martin's scoring in reining. Schaefer continued her successful day with a 139 (70.5-68.5) victory while Davis' 138 points (70-68) also emerged victorious. Additionally, Logan Putvinski (128; 64-64) and Aubrey Malone (131.5; 65-66.5) took part in the Skyhawks' scoring lineup in reining.

UT Martin advances to its third consecutive ECAC Championship finals appearance tomorrow when it faces No. 3 seed UC Davis at 10 a.m. The Aggies ended their semifinals meet with three straight victories to upset No. 2 seed Delaware State by a 10-8 margin.