The Mustangs will compete in the Varsity Equestrian Championships for the fifth time in six seasons and for the first time under second-year coach Ashley Schaeffer.

The Mustangs (5-9) obtained a No. 11 seed and will face No. 6 seed Oklahoma State University in the first round on April 15. If they win, they face the No. 3 seed University of South Carolina on the following day.

SMU has one regular-season match remaining against the University of Baylor, which holds a No. 4 seed in the tournament. Baylor already beat SMU 5-3 in Waco on Jan. 31.

The Mustangs faced Oklahoma State in their regular-season opener Sept. 20, dropping the duel 8-2. In that contest, sophomore Kate Wilson won in equitation over fences, and junior Kristen Collins captured a narrow victory in equitation on the flat.

SMU began the season by losing five of six, but has rebounded to win three of five. The Mustangs have two wins away from Park Lane Equestrian Center this season.

“We are very excited about our seeding and the opportunity to pursue a national championship,” Schaeffer told SMUMustangs.com.

SMU’s duel against Baylor on Saturday is its sixth match this season against a team ranked in the top five. The Mustangs are 1-5 in those matches, with their only win coming against No. 2 Georgia on Nov. 23.

The last time the Mustangs were in the postseason, they were ousted in the first round by No. 5 seed Texas A&M in 2007.