Maryland (10-11)Â at Rutgers (13-15)
March 14-16, 2025
Rutgers Softball Complex
(3/14) 3:00 PM, (3/15) 3:00 PM, (3/16) 1:00 PM
B1G Plus
COLLEGE PARK, MDÂ -The University of Maryland softball team is set to open Big Ten play with a trip to Piscataway, N.J., to face Rutgers in its first conference series of the 2025 season.
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matchup preview
- Maryland enters Big Ten play with a 10-11 overall record, highlighted by a statement win at the Kajikawa Classic, where the Terps upset No. 21 California, 6-3, at Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium. The victory marked Maryland's first of the season and the program's 39th all-time win over a ranked opponent. It was also head coach Lauren Karn's third ranked win at Maryland, following shutout victories over No. 25 Oregon and No. 22 Penn State last season.
- Last time out, Maryland wrapped up its nonconference tournament schedule with a 3-1 record at the Hail Southern Invitational. The Terps defeated Rider twice and earned a win over Georgia Southern to close out the weekend. In that game, Bri Godfrey pitched a complete game, allowing just two hits and two runs.
- Rutgers enters the series 13-15 overall and is coming off a 4-1 weekend at the Bob Heck Memorial Tournament in Decatur, Ga. The Scarlet Knights picked up wins against North Dakota, West Georgia, Colgate, and Georgia State, falling only in their second matchup against North Dakota.
- At the plate, LA Matthews leads Rutgers with 20 RBIs, five doubles, and a home run while batting .313. The team's top hitter, Jillian Anderson, leads Rutgers with a .371 batting average, 26 hits, and 16 walks, giving her a .946 on-base percentage. She has also driven in 11 runs this season.
- In the circle, freshman Ella Harrison has been Rutgers' ace, making 16 appearances (15 starts) while holding the team's lowest ERA at 1.83. She has pitched 10 complete games, including four shutouts, while striking out 124 batters and posting an 8-7 record. Kelsey Hoekstra has also seen time in the circle, making 11 appearances (10 starts) with a 4.82 ERA, a 4-7 record, and 19 strikeouts.
- Maryland and Rutgers first met in 2004, with Rutgers holding a 12-10 advantage in the all-time series. The last meeting came in College Park last season, where Rutgers swept a doubleheader, winning 7-6 and 9-0. The Terps are 4-8 on the road against Rutgers and 5-5 in the last 10 matchups.
Softball went 3-1 at the Hail Southern Classic this past weekend.Â
b1g returners start hot
- 2024 All-Big Ten Second Team selections Mazie MacFarlane and Sydney Lewis have carried their momentum into the new season.
- MacFarlane ranks second on the team with a .348 batting average, leading Maryland in hits (24) and doubles (9). She delivered a standout performance against UMass, going 4-for-4 with a career-high four hits, including a double and two runs scored.
- Lewis has already hit five home runs this season, surpassing her total from last year. In Maryland's home opener against Saint Joseph's, she blasted a three-run homer in the fourth inning, extending the Terps' lead to 7-0—the 10th home run of her collegiate career.
Lewis hits fifth home run of the season against Rider.Â
Standout Performances from Georgia
- Several Terps had a strong weekend in Statesboro, including sophomore Bailey Murphy. Murphy set career highs in multiple games, going 2-for-3 at the plate against Georgia Southern and collecting a career-high three RBIs against Rider.
- Two Terps pitchers threw complete games in the tournament:
- Freshman Aubrey Wurst pitched a complete-game shutout against Rider, recording a career-high nine strikeouts, while allowing just two hits in a 9-0 victory.
- Bri Godfrey pitched a complete game in the 5-1 win over Georgia Southern, allowing just two hits and one run.
Bri Godfrey pitches a complete game against GA Southern.
