University of Maryland Athletics

Sammi Woods Celebrates A Hit On Senior Day
1
Illinois ILLINOIS 13-33
8
Winner Maryland MARYLAND 17-27
Illinois ILLINOIS
13-33
1
Final
8
Maryland MARYLAND
17-27
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Illinois ILLINOIS 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 4
Maryland MARYLAND 3 0 0 0 0 5 X 8 11 1

W: Wurst , Aubrey (4-5) L: Danika Frazier (1-3)

Game Recap: Softball |

Terps Earn 8-1 Win Over Illinois On Senior Day

Five different Terps logged multi-hit days in Maryland’s final home game of 2026.

COLLEGE PARK, MD — The Terps sent their senior class off in style with an 8-1 win over Illinois on Sunday afternoon. Two Maryland arms held Illinois to four hits as the Terps clinched the series win and moved to 17-27 (3-18 Big Ten) in 2026.

Seniors Sammi Woods, Lauren Caye, and Caroline Fox were three of five Terps to log multi-hit days in the series finale. Bailey Murphy and Matti Benson also collected a pair of hits as Maryland secured the weekend series over the Fighting Illini. Maryland pushed three early runs across in the first inning as Benson drove in two with an RBI double and Fox got her Senior Day started with an RBI single. The Terps took a 3-0 lead and gave Aubrey Wurst a lead to protect in the circle. Wurst was dominant in her eighth start of the season. She only allowed one unearned run to cross during her 4.2-inning effort. She stranded 10 runners on base and collected three strikeouts before relenting the pitching duties to Elisea Wiegand in the fifth.  A pair of fielding errors opened the home half of the sixth inning, prompting a five-run frame from the Terps that sealed their win and dropped Illinois to 13-33 (3-14 Big Ten) on the season. Murphy drove in a run with an RBI double before Mariah Penta and Caye followed her up with RBI knocks of their own. How It Happened:
  • B1: Murphy legged out an infield single to record the Terps' first hit.
  • B1: Benson got the scoring started with her two-RBI double. 
  • B1: Fox added to the lead with an RBI single. 
  • T2: A fielding error brought Illinois' first run home. 
  • T5: Wiegand entered and collected a strikeout to leave the bases loaded.
  • B6: Murphy drove in a run with an RBI double.
  • B6: Penta's infield single gave Maryland a 5-1 lead.
  • B6: Benson reached on an RBI fielder's choice to extend the lead.
  • B6: Caye drove in two with an RBI double.
Senior Spotlight: Impact Performances:
  • Wurst (SP): 4.2 IP, W (4-5), 1 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 3 K.
  • Benson (3B): 2-4, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2B.
  • Caye (LF): 2-4, 2 RBI, 2B.
  • Fox (2B): 2-4, RBI.
  • Woods (SS): 2-4, 2B, R.
  • Murphy (RF): 2-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B.
  • Wiegand (RP): 2.0 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 3 K.
Numbers To Know:
  • 1: Maryland earned its first Big Ten series win of the season. 
  • 4: The Terps limited Illinois to four hits. 
  • 6: Maryland honored six seniors on Sunday.
  • 8: Maryland earned its eighth all-time win over Illinois.
  • 11: The Terps collected 11 hits in the win.
  • 11: Maryland improved to 11-9 at home in 2026.
  • 20: Sunday marked the 20th all-time meeting between Maryland and Illinois.
Up Next:
  • Maryland heads on the road to face Delaware on Apr. 21. First pitch is slated for 6 PM and the game will air on ESPN+.
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