LEXINGTON, Ky. – After strong performances in both disciplines Saturday, the University of Kentucky rifle team posted a season-opening team score of 4721 to secure its first win of the season, defeating Morehead State inside the UK Rifle Range at Barker Hall.

Morehead State posted a team score of 4637, earning a 2296 in smallbore and 2341 in air rifle. Kentucky bested the Eagles with a 4721 team score, posting a 2334 in smallbore and 2387 in air rifle.

Sophomore Braden Peiser was the top performer at the match, earning a 1187 aggregate after a 589 in smallbore and 598 in air rifle. His smallbore score was the best of the day, while he and junior Sofia Ceccarello tied for second in air rifle. It was freshman Liz Probst that led air rifle with a 599, busting onto the scene in her first collegiate meet.

“Good start to season and really impressed with how the freshmen came out and performed today overall,” UK head coach Harry Mullins said. “Obviously, Liz led the way in air rifle, but Sam, Brandon and Hannah also performed well and that was good to see. Good to see Braden and Sofia compete and perform well today as well. It has been a busy week for both Braden and Liz getting back from traveling to an international competition, so happy for them. AJ was fun to watch in air rifle today and performed well. Just happy overall. Lots of work left to do, but this was a good start and we will see if we can add to it next week.”

Kentucky started the match by earning a 2334 team score in smallbore behind some impressive performances. It was Peiser leading the way with a 589, earning a 195 in kneeling, 198 in prone and 196 in standing with 35 total centers. Freshmen Brandon Evans and Probst finished just behind him with strong 583 scores in their opening collegiate match. Evans had 32 centers, while Probst had 34 centers. Evans scored a 192 in kneeling, 198 in prone and 193 in standing. Probst earned a 194 in kneeling, 198 in prone and 191 in standing. UK’s final countable score was also from a freshman as Sam Adkins posted a 579 in his first collegiate match, posting a 189 in kneeling, 198 in prone and 192 in standing. Senior Allison Buesseler was UK’s drop score in smallbore, posting a 577 with a 192 in kneeling, 196 in prone and 189 in standing.

Junior AJ Hotko, sophomore Emily Marne, freshman Hannah Todd and junior Martin Voss also competed in smallbore. Hotko posted a 565 with Marne earning a 561, Todd a 560 and Voss a 580. Ceccarello did not compete in smallbore Saturday.

Probst was the leader in air rifle with a 599, hitting 48 centers. Peiser and Ceccarello finished right behind her with 598s with both hitting 54 centers. Voss and Hotko posted impressive numbers as both scored 592. Voss hit 47 centers while Hotko hit 39. Buesseler scored a 589 with 44 centers, while Todd wrapped the first air rifle relay with a 584 and 30 centers.

Adkins, Evans and Marne were all in the second air rifle relay. Adkins wrapped his impressive first day as a Wildcat with a 597, including 49 centers. Evans also scored strong with a 591 and 36 centers, while Marne earned a 573 with 24 centers.

Morehead State was led by Hayden Bell, who scored a 577 in smallbore and 581 in air rifle for a 1158 aggregate. Adrianna Beard led the Eagles in air rifle with a 591, but did not compete in smallbore.

Kentucky will be back in action next weekend at Georgia Southern on Oct. 12. The Wildcats return to Lexington on Oct. 26 for a tri-match with Navy and North Georgia before a dual match at Ole Miss on Nov. 2. After a week off, UK wraps the fall portion of the schedule with three competitions across eight days starting with a home tri-match with Army and Murray State on Nov. 16. The following weekend UK travels to Colorado Springs, Colorado for two matches beginning Nov. 23 vs. Akron and ending Nov. 24 vs. Air Force and Akron.

The NCAA Rifle Championships return to Lexington for the first time since 2020. The two-day event will see the best air rifle and smallbore competitors in the nation compete on the historic Memorial Coliseum floor. The smallbore competition will be March 14 followed by air rifle competition on March 15. Ticket information and full schedule of events for the championships will be announced later.

For more information on the Kentucky rifle team, visit UKathletics.com or follow UKRifle on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.