After having runners on second and third base to start the game, Maryland softball failed to put together any sort of dangerous offense on Saturday against Wisconsin.
The Terps could not convert the few hits they pulled off, getting shut out for the third time this season.
Maryland’s .250 average is higher than its average against the Big Ten, but it wasn’t enough to secure the victory. Maryland dropped its fourth straight series in a 3-0 loss, marking the longest losing streak of its season.
Keira Bucher made her first conference start for the Terps, and she pitched better than she has against other conference opponents.
Bucher gave up one run in the first inning after walking two batters and hitting a third. She only allowed one hit, but her misses outside the strike zone meant that one hit would be enough to concede the lead early.
However, she improved as the game progressed, only giving up two more runs for the rest of the game, neither of which was earned. Bucher pitched a complete six-inning game, only allowing one earned run, pitching 123 times. She gave up five walks on the day.
Her efforts would not be enough. The offense stalled whenever they managed to get a runner on base.
Friday’s five runs from seven hits vastly outperformed Saturday, where Maryland did not score at all off of its six hits. Its hitting output was not awful, but they could not convert hits into runs.
They finished 1-for-13 with runners on base, and 0-for-8 when the runners were in scoring position. Maryland only managed two walks in the Saturday outing.
Part of that was due to Wisconsin’s pitching staff. Berritt Herr, the starter, had only allowed 15 walks coming into her start against Maryland. Kendra Lewis also secured her first career save against the Terps.
On a positive note, Mariah Penta’s surge in successful at-bats has now become more impactful than ever now that Sammi Woods has returned to the lineup. The two bats in the two and three spots have combined for six hits and three RBIs.
The two of them combined for two hits in the first inning that put runners on second and third. The next two batters failed to bring them home.
Bucher has struggled mightily in conference play. She is allowing a 5.79 ERA, giving up 19 runs in six previous Big Ten appearances.
Wisconsin’s baserunning far overshadowed the Terps. The Badgers managed three steals, but were only tagged out once. Hannah Conger even safely reached home plate after the Terps committed an error trying to stop her from stealing third.
In contrast, Caitlin Cornwell was caught stealing in the third inning, and to add to the poor choice, Maryland challenged the obvious out, seemingly trying to manufacture extra bases where there was not an opportunity to pick any up.
Maryland is currently on pace to win only two conference games this season, fewer than a horrible 2025 campaign.
