ORLANDO, FL — Maryland found itself in a pitchers' duel in its first game of the season, and sophomore arm Aubrey Wurst dominated in the circle, but Boston University came away with a 3-0 win in Maryland's first game of Friday's season-opening doubleheader in the Black and Gold Classic. 

Opening day flicks📸#feartheturtle pic.twitter.com/GEVjJcIqFF

— Maryland Softball (@TerpsSoftball) February 6, 2026

Wurst made her 11th-career start in the circle for the Terps on Friday. She retired the first six batters she faced and didn't allow a hit until the third inning. Wurst allowed just one lone run across five innings of work while fanning four batters. She recorded three clean innings in her strong first start of the season. 

Boston University broke the ice in the top of third, using a pair of hits and two walks to push the game's first run across, but a timely strikeout from Wurst limited the damage to the lone tally.

On the other side of the pitchers' duel, the Terriers (2-1) received a complete-game effort from Kasey Ricard. She kept the Terps at bay, not allowing any runs on just one hit while tallying 13 strikeouts across seven innings of work. 

Keira Bucher relieved Wurst in the circle in the sixth inning and worked a 1-2-3 frame. The Terriers pushed a pair of insurance runs across in the top of the seventh, and Maryland was kept in check in the final frame to close out the contest.

The Action:
First Inning:

• Wurst worked a 1-2-3 frame. 

Second Inning:

• Wurst recorded her first strikeout of the season.

Third Inning:

• The Terriers' Megan Coyle walked to push the game's first run across.
• Wurst's fourth strikeout of the game stranded three to end the frame. 

Fourth Inning:

• Wurst worked her third 1-2-3 inning of the morning, forcing a trio of flyouts. 
• Mariah Penta reached on an error to become Maryland's first baserunner of the morning.

Fifth Inning:

• Wurst stranded a runner at third to keep it a one-run game. 
• Bailey Murphy led the bottom of the fifth off with the Terps' first hit of the game. 

Sixth Inning:

• Bucher took over in the circle and worked a clean frame. 

Seventh Inning:

• Boston University got a run on an infield single from Brooke Deppiesse.
• The Terriers pushed a third run across with some crafty baserunning.

Fresh Faces:

• Maryland had three new Terps in the starting lineup donning red and black for the first time. Head coach Lauren Karn also used one new player off the bench on Friday. 
• Zayda Rocke made her collegiate debut at catcher.
• Bailey Ullman made her collegiate debut as the Terps' designated hitter.
• UNC transfer Carolin Fox made her Maryland debut at second base.
• Seton Hall transfer Lauren Caye pinch ran in the bottom of the fifth to make her first appearance as a Terp.

Up Next:

• Maryland takes on Buffalo at 11:30 as the Black and Gold Classic rolls on.