By Daniel Chavkin

Maryland softball dropped their first game of a three game series vs. Michigan State Friday by a score of 12-3.

Sophomore Skylynne Ellazar had a great day at the plate, hitting a two-run home run in the first to take the lead. She would add another run in the fifth through an RBI single, completing Maryland’s offense for the day.

“I have a job to do, and I need to do it,” Ellazar said. “I don’t want to let my teammates down.”

However, the pitching and defense continued to struggle. Junior Madison Martin let up six runs in just under five innings, including two two-run home runs, one in the third and one in the fifth.

“I was just missing some pitches and they capitalized on my mistakes,” Martin said.

“I thought their energy was great the whole game,” head coach Julie Wright said. “I thought their hitters did a good job at adjusting to what we were doing on the mound.”

Junior Brenna Nation relieved Martin in the fifth, but didn’t fair much better. Due to three Maryland errors, Nation surrendered six runs in the sixth, all but two unearned.  Michigan St. stretched their lead from three to nine, stopping any hope of a Maryland comeback.

“We just didn’t complete some plays we needed to complete,” Wright said.

“We’re not really staying connected on the field when things get a little crazy,” Ellazar said. “We just need to learn how to keep it together for the entire game.”

Maryland will look to bounce back against Michigan State on Saturday.