All season, Maryland softball’s pitching rotation has been its weakest link in a dismal 2025 campaign. So it came as no surprise that the Terps’ pitching faltered once again in their final contest of the season.

Keira Bucher threw in relief after Bri Godfrey and Julia Shearer each managed only one inning of work against Nebraska, allowing a combined seven runs. The junior held the Huskers scoreless for 3 ⅓ innings, but Ava Kuszak’s two-run home run mercy-ruled Maryland, 9-1.

It was the 11th time this season the Terps have lost via the mercy-rule and the 16th straight loss they suffered against a conference opponent.

Maryland finished with a -95 run margin against Big Ten foes. It gave up sixteen runs or more in 16 of its 22 conference matchups.

“I’m hoping our team, when they return, doesn’t forget that and forget what this feels like,” coach Lauren Karn said.

Karn’s team regressed in her second season, finishing the year with a 3-19 record in Big Ten play. It’s the program’s worst conference record since 2005 and the team’s lowest win percentage since 2018.

[Maryland softball musters just 1 hit in 6-0 loss to Nebraska]

A 6.69 team ERA during Big Ten play cost Maryland multiple games. Sunday was no different. Nebraska started the game by scoring four runs in the first inning, including a home run by the Huskers’ Jordyn Bahl on the second pitch of the game.

Bri Godfrey, who pitched 3 ⅓ innings, allowing five hits and four runs in the series’ first two matchups, started the contest.

The junior was at one point Maryland’s ace, but dropped off in conference play. Godfrey’s ERA rose from 3.68 at the beginning of the Big Ten slate to over five by the season’s end.

Shearer replaced Godfrey after just one inning, but the sophomore struggled as well, surrendering another three runs on five hits.

The talent disparity in the pitching circle was even more evident when Maryland’s offense took the field. Bahl no-hit the Terps and struck out six batters through four innings.

[Pitching doomed Maryland softball against Penn State despite strong offense]

Maryland didn’t get much from either of its graduating students in their final game. Both Mazie MacFarlane and Sam Bean struck out twice in their final career at bats.

After Nebraska made a pitching change, the Terps’ offense strung together three hits in the fifth inning and scored their lone run of the game. But Bucher’s strong outing ended in disappointment, as Kuszak’s home run ended Maryland’s season.

The final long-ball was the 42nd home run the Terps allowed this season. Karn’s first two seasons haven’t gone according to plan – Maryland’s regressed from its two winning years in 2023 and 2022.

“Going into next year, I just think we need to find a way to want to win a little bit more,” Karn said.

The Terps will miss the Big Ten tournament for the first time since 2021. Sunday’s game was emblematic of most of Maryland’s season — limited offensive production and disappointing pitching performances, ending in a conference series sweep.