Benson, McGowan Homer In 5-4 Loss To Illinois

Saturday, April 18

Maryland Softball Stadium

2 PM

Maryland

Illinois

4/18/2026 2:00:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Both of the Terps’ first two hits left the yard on Saturday afternoon.

COLLEGE PARK, MD — Illinois rallied with a three-run seventh inning to steal a 5-4 win from the Terps and even the weekend series on Saturday afternoon. Maryland fell to 17-26 (2-18 Big Ten) despite hitting a pair of two-run homers.

Matti Benson left the yard in the first inning to plate two and give the Teps the early lead. Her fifth blast of the season moved her up to third on the team in homers and gave Keira Bucher a lead to protect in the circle.

⬇️1️⃣ Two run bomb for Matti puts the terps up 2-0!!💣#FearTheTurtle pic.twitter.com/FhXc3QtmLB
— Maryland Softball (@TerpsSoftball) April 18, 2026

Bucher did a good job limiting the damage through the early parts of Saturday's game. She left the bases juiced in three different innings on a day where Illinois stranded 14 runners on base. Anna McGowan's ninth homer of the season put the Terps ahead 4-2 in the fourth inning. Both of Maryland's first two hits left the yard on Saturday. McGowan finished with two of the Terps' three hits.

⬇️4️⃣ Anna McGowan knocks it out of the park!!🔥🔥

UMD 4 | UI 2#FearTheTurtle pic.twitter.com/Dcf3XOrMmM
— Maryland Softball (@TerpsSoftball) April 18, 2026

After loading the bases again in the seventh, Illinois finally broke through with a three-run frame to claim a 5-4 lead and advance to 13-32 (3-13 Big Ten) on the season. The two teams will square off in a rubber match on Sunday at 12 PM.

How it Happened:

T1: Bucher stranded the bases in a scoreless first inning of work.
B1: Benson's two-run blast opened the scoring.
T2: Illinois left the bases loaded again.
T3: Illinois tied the game with a two-run homer.
T4: Bucher stranded three more in a scoreless frame.
B4: McGowan gave UMD a 4-2 lead with a two-run shot.
T7: An error gifted the Fighting Illini their third run.
T7: Illinois tied the game with an RBI single.
T7: The Fighting Illini took a 5-4 lead with their three-hit, three-run seventh.
B7: McGowan led the inning off with a single to put the tying run on base.