Believing In The Program

On March 21, 2024, the ground was officially broken for the Maryland Softball Performance Center building. 

Now — almost exactly a year later — the facility is complete. It allows softball student-athletes to train year-round in a climate-controlled environment where they can hone their skills regardless of the conditions. The 5,800-square-foot facility features defined spaces for pitchers and hitters and technology upgrades for increased analytics.

Head softball coach Lauren Karn explained that the Maryland Softball Performance Center allows her and her program to continue building something special. 

“I think what's really special about this building in particular is we're going to do so much work here,” Karn said. “This is going to be such a communal space for years to come. It's not just this year's team. It's next year's team and the year after that. When this team looks completely different with all new people, they're all going to be still doing the same work in the same building.”

The project was one of many in Maryland Athletics’ Building Champions initiative, a campaign that enables investment in facility renovation and enhancement.

At the facility’s unveiling, Interim Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics Colleen Sorem, addressed the team and let it be known that her staff is there to support them.

“This is about you and making our student-athletes and this program better,” Sorem said. “We made a promise to coach Karn, and now we're making our promise to you. We're excited that you have this amazing facility here. You deserve it, and you've earned it.” 

Karn was hired as Maryland’s softball coach on Aug. 31, 2023. The former two-time Horizon League Coach of the Year at Oakland is in the midst of her second season at the helm of the Terps and primed to take the next in building a winning program — a feat she accomplished during her tenure at Oakland from 2018-23. 

Karn led Oakland to Horizon League regular-season championships in 2022 and 2023. Her 2022 Golden Grizzlies squad also won its conference tournament and played in the NCAA Tournament.

With recruiting being a significant catalyst in building a winning program, Karn says the Maryland Softball Performance Center allows her and her program to recruit high-level players to build a strong foundation for future success. 

“This is one of the first places we can show recruits, and it's so impressive,” Karn said. “We have history on the walls. It's very clear that it's Maryland Softballs’ Performance Center, and it has everything we need to work efficiently.”

Junior first baseman Sydney Lewis — a 2024 All-Big Ten Second Team honoree — echoed Karn’s sentiment. She also expressed her excitement about utilizing the facility. 

“It's little things like that that can bring super talented kids here over regular recruiting tactics,” Lewis said. “I’m just super excited to come in here every day, spend my own time here, use it as a form of self-care and just get better. I have one more year, and I get to utilize this to achieve the goals I want to accomplish.” 

Although graduate outfielder Mazie MacFarlane — a 2024 All-Big Ten Second Team selection — is nearing the end of her collegiate softball career, she expressed excitement about utilizing the facility’s technology. 

“I'm really excited to have this,” MacFarlane said. “Coming in here and being able to work no matter the weather is really exciting. All of us can come and hit on our own with a self-feeding pitching machine, which I think is really cool. We have everything right here.”

Karn and the rest of the team thanked staff members for investing in their program and prioritizing the new facility. 

“They’ve worked tirelessly on this,” Karn said. “And at this time of year, it's not necessarily the easiest thing to be focused on or prioritize. They prioritized it for us, knowing that it's needed at any point in time in the year. It just shows how much they believe in our program.”