Maryland Closes 2026 Season With 7-2 Win Over Michigan State

Sunday, April 26

East Lansing, MI

12 PM

Maryland

19-29, 0

Michigan State

17-31, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Maryland	2	0	2	3	0	0	0	7	11	0
Michigan State	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	7	0

Maryland celebrates an out against Michigan State

Maryland Closes 2026 Season With 7-2 Win Over Michigan State

4/26/2026 12:00:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Eight different Terps recorded hits in their final game of 2026.

EAST LANSING, MI — The Terps sent the 2026 season out in style with a 7-2 win over Michigan State on Sunday afternoon. Maryland collected 11 hits to clinch the weekend series and finish the season with a 19-29 (5-19 Big Ten) record.

Anna McGowan — who finished the season with a team-leading 37 RBIs — gave the Terps an early 2-0 lead with a two-RBI single during Maryland's three-hit first inning. Bailey Murphy made an impact in the final game of the season with a two-RBI double in the top of the third inning to extend the Terps' lead to 4-1.

⬆️1️⃣ Terps on the board 2-0‼️

UMD 2 | MSU 0#FearTheTurtle pic.twitter.com/M6d36lHpXM
— Maryland Softball (@TerpsSoftball) April 26, 2026

Keira Bucher was dominant in the circle during her three-inning start on Sunday. She only allowed one run on four hits while Maryland built a lead with its early offensive surge. Elisea Wiegand and Caitlin Olensky also both pitched in the final game of the season.

⬇️3️⃣ K-BAR ARE YOU KIDDING!🤯🤯#FearTheTurtle pic.twitter.com/Gjsw5lhUYV
— Maryland Softball (@TerpsSoftball) April 26, 2026

Maryland's lead ballooned in a three-run third inning as Sammi Woods, Mariah Penta, and Matti Benson all contributed to the RBI parade. Five different Terps drove in at least one run as eight different players logged hits in the win.

⬆️4️⃣ Down the line for Sammi Woods‼️

UMD 5 | MSU 1#FearTheTurtle pic.twitter.com/DlnZ7dAMh2
— Maryland Softball (@TerpsSoftball) April 26, 2026

Zayda Rocke collected a pair of hits in the final game of her impressive freshman season. Woods and Benson also logged multi-hit days as the Terps recorded their 13th game with double-digit hits in 2026.

⬆️4️⃣ Matti Benson extends the lead 7-1😈#FearTheTurtle pic.twitter.com/TgflCrmnsO
— Maryland Softball (@TerpsSoftball) April 26, 2026

Maryland's season came to an end on Sunday, but the Terps finished it on a high note. The victory sealed the first time the program has won back-to-back Big Ten series since 2022, sparking optimism for the future of Terrapin softball in College Park.

How It Happened:

T1: Woods led the game off with a bunt single.
T1: McGowan plated two with a single to left as Maryland took a 2-0 lead.
B1: MSU got on the board with an RBI double.
T3: Benson ripped a double to left field.
T3: Murphy extended Maryland's lead to 4-1 with her two-RBI double.
T4: Woods plated Maryland's fifth run with an RBI single.
T4: Penta's sac-fly gave the Terps a 6-1 lead.
T4: Benson picked up an RBI with a single to plate Woods.
B4: Wiegand worked a 1-2-3 frame.
B5: MSU crept closer with an RBI double.
B7: Olensky recorded the final six outs of the season.

Impact Performances:

Woods (SS): 2-4, 2 R, RBI.
Benson (3B): 2-4, R, RBI, 2B.
McGowan (DH): 1-3, 2 RBI, BB.
Murphy (RF): 1-4, 2 RBI, 2B.
Rocke (C): 2-2, R, BB.
Bucher (SP): 3.0 IP, W (7-9), 1 R, 4 H.
Wiegand (RP): 2.0 IP, 1 R, 2 H.
Olensky (RP): 2.0 IP, 0 R, 1 H, K.

Numbers To Know:

2: Maryland won back-to-back Big Ten series for the first time since 2022 over Minnesota and Michigan State.
10: McGowan's 10 homers led the Terps in 2026.
13: Maryland collected double-digit hits for the 13th time this season.
15: Maryland took a 15-14 lead in its all-time series with Michigan State.
26: Benson's 26 walks in 2026 were the most by a Terp this season.
29: Sunday marked the 29th all-time meeting between Maryland and Michigan State.
37: McGowan finished as Maryland's leader in RBIs with 37 in 2026.
50: Penta finished as Maryland's hits leader with 50 in 2026.
57: Olensky led the team with 57 strikeouts in the circle in 2026.