FRESNO, Calif. - The No. 7 Fresno State equestrian team hosts No. 3 TCU on Friday for the 2024-25 home opener and Big 12 opener. The Bulldogs enter this week with a 3-0 record for the first time since the shortened 2021 season, and just the second time in program history.
No. 7 Fresno State (3-0, 0-0 Big 12) vs No. 3 TCU (4-1, 2-0 Big 12)
Friday, October 18 • 11 a.m. PT • Fresno, Calif. • Student Horse Center
Series History: TCU leads, 21-11
Last Time: TCU def. FS 12-7 on the road on Feb. 2, 2024
Live Stream: Mountain West Network
Live Scoring: GoBulldogs.com
Bulldog Bones
Fresno State moved up to No. 7 in the National Collegiate Equestrian Association dual discipline team rankings this week.
Fresno State's No. 7 ranking is its highest by the NCEA since the preseason rankings in the 2021-22 season.
Fresno State is 3-0 to open the season for the first time since the shortened 2021 COVID season, and the second time in program history.
Fresno State is one of three dual discipline teams in the NCEA that are undefeated at this point in the season with Auburn and Texas A&M both 2-0 on the year.
The Bulldogs will ride for the first time at home this season on Friday.
Fresno State's three wins away from home are its most in a season since the shortened 2021 season. It is its most in a non-COVID affected season since the 2018-19 season.
Fresno State has one ranked win this season, defeating then-No. 8 UT Martin in a neutral site meeting in South Dakota.
The last time Fresno State defeated a Top 3 team was a 10-9 home win over then-No. 2 SMU on Nov. 17, 2023.
Fresno State has won nine total MOPs on the year with three in the horsemanship and fences, two in the flat and one in the reining.
Fresno State has seen eight riders see their first career action this season, including Alison Heupel last weekend (reining).
Western 'Dogs
Fresno State is 15-9-4 in the western events this season
Horsemanship leads the group with a 9-3-2 record
Reining has a 6-6-2 record on the year
Fresno State has four western riders without a loss on the year. In the horsemanship, Aubrey Gerdes (2-0-1), Kendra Lee (3-0-0) and Ella Storch (1-0-1). In the reining, Alison Heupel (1-0-0) and Brogan Hill (1-0-2).
The horsemanship group has three different riders with MOPs on the year - Hailey Olson, Lee and Abby Goddard.
Olson has the highest horsemanship score by any Bulldog this season with a 78 in her MOP ride in the season opener against South Dakota State.
Adrianna Runzo has the lone reining MOP on the season
Shelby Robinette has the highest reining score on the year with a 74.5 last time out at UC Davis.
Jumping Seat
Fresno State has a 16-12-0 record in its jumping seat events this season.
The teams are equal in their rides through three meets, with the fences and flat teams both repping a 8-6-0 record.
Fresno State has five jumping seat MOP honors this season with three in the fences and two in the flat.
True freshman Paris Mahoney has had a great start to her collegiate career with an unblemished 3-0 record in both the fences and the flat.
Mahoney has three total MOPs this season with two in the fences and one in the flat.
Mahoney swept the jumping seat MOPs against then-No. 8 UT Martin.
Averey Pritchard has a fences MOP with a 90 scored in the season opener against South Dakota State. Her 90 in the event is the highest fences score by a Bulldog this season.
Quick look at TCU
TCU is 4-1 overall this season with a 2-0 start to Big 12 competition.
The Horned Frogs have conference wins over Baylor and Oklahoma State, and nonconference wins over Georgia and SMU.
TCU is riding a three-meet winning streak into this Friday's meet.
TCU is 1-1 on the road this season with a loss at Auburn on Sept. 27.