Maryland softball faced a challenging road test against No. 21 Washington during its first Big Ten away series. The series provided an early test against one of the conference’s most dominant programs. 

Entering the matchup Sunday, Maryland was looking to regroup after two difficult losses earlier in the series. Despite showing flashes of offensive hope early on, the Terrapins ultimately struggled to maintain momentum against Washington, which has remained dominant throughout the season. 

The Terps fell 8-2 on Sunday, sealing the sweep of the weekend series. 

Maryland began the game with energy and confidence. The Terps struck first in the second inning with a powerful swing from catcher Zayda Rocke. Rocke launched a two-run homer that gave Maryland an early advantage. The blast came with a runner on base and briefly quieted the Washington crowd as the Terrapins jumped out on an early lead. 

The smash hit marked Rocke’s fifth of the 2026 season and increased her RBI total to 19, the second highest on the team. The early homer provided a spark for Maryland as they tried to take control of the game early on.

However, Washington responded quickly. The Huskies managed to tie the game in the bottom of the second with two runs, erasing Maryland’s momentum. The hits helped Washington quickly answer the Terps’ early scoring opportunity. 

From that point on, Washington’s offense began to build pressure on Maryland’s pitchers. In the third inning, the Huskies took a 6-2 lead with a four-run hit. The Huskies combined strategic baserunning with multiple hits to create their biggest offensive push of the afternoon. The sudden offensive surge shifted the momentum in Washington’s favor and forced Maryland to play from behind for the remainder of the afternoon. 

While Maryland struggled to generate consistent offense after Rocke’s homer, the team continued to battle at the plate. At the top of the fifth inning, outfielder Caitlyn Cornwell recorded a single that was the Terrapins’ second hit of the game. Cornwell’s hit briefly gave Maryland a chance to create offensive momentum, but Washington’s defense quickly eliminated the threat. 

Washington’s pitching proved difficult to contend with, limiting Maryland’s opportunities to get multiple players on base at a time. The Huskies consistently worked ahead in the count and forced the Terrapins into several tough batting positions throughout the game. 

Washington was able to plate two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, extending their lead and putting the game further out of reach for Maryland.

For Maryland, the loss dropped it to 12-14 on the season. It also capped a difficult stretch in the series, which also saw a 12-2 loss and a narrow 1-0 defeat.