Davis, Calif. - UC Davis (0-4) took home three MOPs and both Jumping Seat events but fell in a close battle with No. 7 Fresno State (4-3, 2-1) on Friday afternoon at the UC Davis Equestrian Center.
Sabin Marquardt led the Aggies to 3-2 wins in Fences and Flat with scores of 86 and 81 respectively. Marquardt's 86 in Fences is a career-high and the third-best mark in program history, just behind teammates
Stephanie Don (88) and
Lilly Ulrich (87).
Marquardt teamed with
Keely Laughlin, who scored a career-high 84, and
Sierra Gundersen, who turned in a 68, as UC Davis opened an early lead on the Bulldogs with a 3-2 win in Fences.
The Aggies success in the main arena continued in Flat with Marquardt recording her second 80-plus score of the day with an 81 as the ninth rider to go. Laughlin picked up her second win of the day with a 67 and
Lilly Ulrich scored her first Flat win of the season with a 77 to give UC Davis a 6-4 advantage in the Jumping Seat events.
Though UC Davis locked in a battle in Horsemanship that saw all 10 riders score at least 70 points, the Aggies lone point in the event came from MOP
Bobbie Piddock, whose career-high 77 made it 4-1 Fresno State in that event.
Following the conclusion of the third event of the day in Flat, the Aggies trailed Fresno State just 7-8 overall with only the second group of Reiners yet to ride. In a competition in which the largest margin of victory was 2.5 points and the average was just 1.6 points, the Bulldogs swept Reining with one tie between
Kendal Scheiner and Shea Gilson to go ahead 12-7. Friday marked the first time this season UC Davis has been shutout in Reining.
UC Davis will be back in action after the end of the Fall Quarter as the Aggies host No. 1 Auburn on January 31st at the UC Davis Equestrian Center.
ABOUT UC DAVIS
Providing a small-town community feel while providing a world-class academic experience, UC Davis is home to more than 37,000 students and centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley. The No. 5-ranked public university in the nation according to the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education, and among the top 15 public universities nationwide according to U.S. News and World Report, UC Davis offers nearly 100 graduate programs and more than 100 academic majors across four colleges and six professional schools, ranking among the world and nation's best in numerous disciplines, including veterinary science, agriculture, and plant and animal programs.
AGGIE EVO
Launched in 2017-18, the Aggie EVO System is UC Davis Athletics' investment in the primary mission of preparing student-athletes for a successful "launch" after graduation. Thanks to a collaboration of alumni, university resources, corporate partners, coaches and Student-Athlete Outcomes staff, all Aggies are guided over four years to acquire the skills, knowledge, opportunities and tools to better know and navigate the "World of Work" after graduating from UC Davis. Follow the Aggie EVO system on Twitter and Instagram at @AggieEVO.
MARYA WELCH INITIATIVE
Named after the former physical education instructor, coach and Dean of Women who founded women's sports on the campus 25 years before the passage of Title IX, the Marya Welch Initiative for Women's Athletics provides comprehensive support for UC Davis' 16 women's athletics programs. Through the support of the Marya Welch Initiative and its group members, student-athletes are provided the best possible opportunity to succeed inside the classroom, and in competition, through special project gifts and by increasing visibility and participation at women's events throughout the year. All gifts to the Marya Welch Initiative are matched 1:1, doubling the impact on our women's programs. Visit https://give.ucdavis.edu/ATHG/324041 for more information.
