Maryland softball came into Wednesday in the midst of its worst stretch of the season.
After nine consecutive losses, the Terps needed something to change.
Using a big push in the sixth and seventh innings, something did change as Maryland snapped its nine-game losing streak in a walk-off win over Georgetown, 5-3, Tuesday night at Maryland Softball Stadium.
The late push completely flipped the game and delivered one of the Terps’ best late-inning performances of the season.
The bottom of the seventh inning turned the entire game upside down.
With a runner on base, catcher Zayda Rocke stepped up to the plate with a chance to end the game. Rocke launched a two-run home run, sending the ball out of the park and sealing the win for the Terps.
“I think that at-bat really showed how she was adjusting and getting closer and closer to squaring a ball up,” head coach Lauren Karn said. “That’s usually how it goes for her, and you could see it building.”
Maryland’s performance highlighted a larger shift for the Terps. Throughout the season, the team has allowed late leads to slip away. Tonight, they responded with confidence and delivered the win.
The early innings lacked offense. Maryland’s pitching was on point, not allowing Georgetown to score. Offensively, the Terps struggled to string together hits until one swing in the second inning.
With one out, left fielder Gracie Wilson stepped up and drove the ball over the fence between center and left field for her first career home run, giving Maryland a 1-0 lead and a jolt of energy.
“It was awesome,” Wilson said. “It’s so awesome to be able to do it with them and just play with them every day.”
Her moment was just the beginning of an exciting game.
Maryland couldn’t extend the lead in the middle innings, and Georgetown managed to slowly work its way back into the game.
The Hoyas launched a three-run home run at the top of the sixth to take a 3-1 lead, putting Maryland in a position that felt far too familiar during their losing streak.
But this time, it was different. Instead of allowing Georgetown to take control of the game, the Terps fought hard to come back.
“I think we had confidence in our offense to come back late,” Karn said. “Our energy was building in the dugout as the game was going on… You could feel that we had the confidence to win that one.”
That confidence showed immediately at the bottom of the sixth. Maryland stayed aggressive, putting the ball in play and forcing the Hoyas to make plays. After a Georgetown mistake and a clutch hit, the Terps tied the game and completely shifted the momentum.
A key pitching change brought Keira Bucher in for starter Elisea Wiegand and prevented Georgetown from regaining control.
Bucher pitched the final 1 1/3 innings, allowing no runners on base. Maryland’s offense did its job, scoring four runs in the sixth and seventh innings to give Bucher the win.
Now, Maryland will look to build on that momentum with their next seven games at home. With growing confidence and energy in the dugout, they’ll have the added boost of a home crown behind them.
“We’re excited to be playing at home,” Karn said. “We love playing in the stadium, we love playing in front of our people, and to be able to do that for the next couple weeks is really big for us.”
