MOREHEAD, Ky. -- The sport of college rifle is literally a game of millimeters, and Morehead State and Jacksonville State proved that Saturday. The Eagles led after Smallbore but were eventually edged by one point on overall score, as they dropped a 4,672-4,671 decision to the host Gamecocks in Alabama.
MSU fired a 2,321 Smallbore score, the fourth highest score in program history. That included a school-record 770 on the standing portion of the three-position event. The Eagles shot 2,350 in Air Rifle, and JSU edged the Eagles by totaling 2,365 on the Air range.
In Smallbore, freshman
Maria Koenig led the way with a 582. Senior
Cassidy Wilson and graduate student
Grace Weber each finished at 580, and sophomore
Adrianna Beard was next with a 579. Graduate student
Bryce Ward also fired 579, and sophomore
Hayden Bell was at 563.
In Air Rifle, Weber led her team with a 591. Weber had shot 592 in the three previous matches this fall and stayed above the 590 mark today as well. Senior
Andrew Morris fashioned a 587. Ward and Wilson each scored a 586. Ward had 38 center shots, while Wilson slipped 37 centers in. Beard also had a 586 with 36 centers, and Koenig had a 587.
Several personal bests highlighted the day as well. Beard's standing total of 194 was her best ever. Bell tied his prone Smallbore PR at 198. Koenig tied her personal record of 197 in prone, and her 587 Air tied the top mark in her first season. Weber's standing 191 was her high-water mark of her career.
The Eagles' next match is set for Sunday when they take on Ohio State and Memphis in Columbus, Ohio.
