Maryland (15-15)Â vs. UCLA (29-5)
March 28-30, 2025
Maryland Softball Complex
6:00 PM, 2:00 PM, and Noon
B1G+
COLLEGE PARK, MDÂ -Â Terps return to College Park for a three-game weekend series against No. 7 UCLA after picking up a midweek home win over Delaware.
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matchup preview
- Maryland enters the weekend with a 15-15 overall record and a 3-4 mark in Big Ten play after opening conference action with a series win over Rutgers and going 1-3 in Oklahoma City.
- In OKC, the Terps dropped both games to Michigan (0-8, 1-5) and split with Purdue, winning the first matchup 8-1 before falling 0-2 in the finale. In the win over Purdue, Madison Runyan and Sam Bean combined for three home runs, each hitting a two-run shot early to build a 6-0 lead. Runyan's homer marked the first of her career, while Bean recorded her fifth of the season and 15th career home run, finishing the game with two homers and four RBI.
- Bri Godfrey picked up her fourth win of the year in the circle, allowing just four hits. Offensively, Sammi Woods, Bailey Murphy, and Mazie MacFarlane each recorded multi-hit games. The Terps' defense also made a statement, catching Purdue's top base-stealer, Moriah Polar, twice on the bases.
- Most recently, Maryland hosted Delaware for a midweek matchup, rallying from a four-run deficit to earn a 5-4 victory and improve to 15-15 and a perfect 3-0 at home. Julia Shearer sparked the comeback with a two-run homer in the second inning, followed by RBI doubles from Mazie MacFarlane and Matti Benson to tie the game. Gracie Wilson scored the game-winning run on a Delaware error in the fifth. Freshman Aubrey Wurst was dominant in relief, throwing five no-hit innings to earn the win. Six different Terps recorded hits in the balanced effort.
- UCLA enters the weekend ranked No. 7 nationally with a 29-5 overall record and a 4-1 mark in Big Ten play. The Bruins are among the most complete teams in the country, ranking top 15 nationally in batting average (.348), earned run average (2.10), fielding percentage (.982), home runs per game (1.56), and scoring (7.88 runs/game).
- The Bruins have faced Big Ten opponents Purdue and Iowa this season, sweeping Purdue and splitting the series with Iowa. During their trip to the DMV, UCLA defeated Howard 10-0 in a five-inning midweek contest.
- UCLA's offense is powered by junior Jordan Woolery (.416 AVG, 15 HR, 53 RBI), junior Megan Grant (13 HR), and standout freshman Rylee Slimp (.443 AVG). Three players are currently batting over .400, and the Bruins lead the nation in slugging percentage and total bases.
- On the pitching side, sophomore Kaitlyn Terry leads the staff with 12 wins, a 1.52 ERA, and 100 strikeouts. Junior Taylor Tinsley recently threw a no-hitter and ranks top 10 nationally in multiple pitching categories. As a team, UCLA is top 10 in ERA, WHIP, strikeouts, and K/BB ratio.
- Defensively, the Bruins are elite as well, ranking fourth in the nation in fielding percentage at .983. In their first season as a member of the Big Ten, UCLA brings a deep, experienced roster that includes two returning All-Pac-12 First Team pitchers and multiple All-Americans.
- UCLA leads the all-time series against Maryland, 8-0, with the most recent meeting being a 6-5 come-from-behind win on Opening Day in 2024.
Terps defeated Delaware to improve their home record to 3-0.Â
b1g returners start hot
- 2024 All-Big Ten Second Team selections Mazie MacFarlane and Sydney Lewis have continued their strong play into the new season.
- MacFarlane ranks second on the team with a .354 batting average, leading Maryland in hits (34) and doubles (12). She delivered a standout performance in the series win over Rutgers, going 4-for-7 in the two victories, smashing two home runs and driving in five RBIs while maintaining a perfect fielding percentage (4 putouts).
- Lewis has already hit seven home runs this season, surpassing last year's total. In the rubber match win against Rutgers, she crushed two home runs, drove in four runs, and went 2-for-4 at the plate.
Macfarlane hits two home runs in Rutgers series.
Murphy's Corner
- Sophomore outfielder/designated player Bailey Murphy is having a breakout season, currently leading the team with a .381 batting average and totaling 24 hits.
- She has appeared in 27 games this season with 24 starts, a significant jump from her freshman year when she started only one game and recorded one hit.
- This season, Murphy has recorded her first career two doubles, one triple, and has driven in seven runs.
- Most recently, she went 3-for-4 at the plate against Purdue, scoring one run and setting a new career high in hits.
Murphy leads the Terps with a .400 batting average.Â
