Four-Run First Lifts Terps To 5-1 Win Over Illinois

Friday, April 17

Maryland Softball Stadium

6 PM

Maryland

16-26, 2-17

Illinois

12-32, 2-13

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Illinois	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	4	2
Maryland	4	0	1	0	0	0	X	5	7	0

Sammi Woods Celebrates a Hit Against Illinois

4/17/2026 6:00:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Caroline Fox plated three as Maryland opened its weekend series with a Big Ten win.

COLLEGE PARK, MD — The Terps took the drama out of Friday's game against Illinois with a four-run first inning and cruised to a 5-1 win to open the weekend series. Maryland's pitching was brilliant as the Terps improved to 16-16 (2-17 Big Ten) in 2026.

Maryland got right after Illinois' starter with a four-run, three-hit frame. Zayda Rocke drove the Terps' first run in before Anna McGowan plated another with an RBI groundout. Caroline Fox then doubled the lead with a bases-clearing double as Maryland claimed the early 4-0 advantage.

⬇️1️⃣ 2 RBI single for Caroline Fox🥳

UMD 4 | UI 0#FearTheTurtle pic.twitter.com/1y7rXJiywa
— Maryland Softball (@TerpsSoftball) April 17, 2026

Pitching with the lead, Caitlin Olensky was dominant in the circle for the Terps. She retired the first six batters she faced, didn't allow a hit until the third inning, and held Illinois scoreless until her fourth and final inning of work.

Rocke and Matti Benson all logged multi-hit days in the win. Fox collected a season-high three RBIs. Mariah Penta scored twice while Elisea Wiegand closed out the game with three clean frames as she retired all nine hitters she faced.

⬇️1️⃣ RBI single for Zayda‼️

UMD 1 | UI 0#FearTheTurtle pic.twitter.com/nPVZLh393n
— Maryland Softball (@TerpsSoftball) April 17, 2026

Maryland dominated the first game of the weekend series as the Terps dropped Illinois to 12-32 (2-13 Big Ten) on the season. Game two of the conference series is slated for Saturday at 2 PM.

How it Happened:

T1: Olensky capped a 1-2-3 first inning off with a strikeout.
B1: Penta singled to put runners on the corners and record Maryland's first hit.
B1: Rocke's RBI single opened the scoring.
B1: McGowan gave the Terps a 2-0 lead with her RBI groundout.
B1: Fox's two-RBI double opened a 4-0 Maryland lead.
T2: Olensky worked another clean inning.
B3: Fox drew a bases-loaded walk to push Maryland's fifth run across.
T4: Illinois got on the board with a solo homer.
T5: Wiegand worked a clean first inning in relief.
T6: Wiegand earned another 1-2-3 frame.
T7: A clean seventh inning from Wiegand capped the 5-1 win.