As Taylor Swift once wrote, ASU softball just needs to "Shake It Off."
On Friday, No. 6 UCLA (45-9, 19-4 Pac-12) hit five home runs in an 11-5 defeat of ASU (33-20, 11-11), setting up an all-important regular season finale at Farrington to determine which team wins the series.
"I think it's a big game for a lot of reasons," Nicholson said with "Shake It Off" playing in the background. "One to try and build a little momentum heading into the postseason and then obviously it's Senior Day."
After escaping Thursday's series opener 8-7 allowing four home runs, the home run explosion continued for the Bruins the next day.
Freshman Breanna Macha (16-11) started for ASU and allowed 10 hits and eight earned runs (five home runs) in five innings pitched. Dating back to the opening game of the series, she allowed home runs in six consecutive innings.
"You’re facing great hitters, you got to be pinpoint with what you’re doing and she just missed with a couple pitches and they made her pay for it," Nicholson said.
Fortunately for her, most of the home runs she allowed were solo shots. But in the fifth on Friday, UCLA catcher Stephany LaRosa hit a devastating three-run shot to put the Bruins ahead 7-2. Macha was almost out of the inning, just allowing the one run, but gave up a walk, then back-to-back home runs and finally back-to-back singles before escaping.
“I still thought at that point that she was our best option to get out of the inning with where they were at in the lineup," Nicholson said of the decision to leave Macha in during the tumultuous fifth inning.
The Sun Devils have now surrendered more home runs (78) than it has hit (77).
Credit ASU, though, for not giving up in the game. In the bottom half of the fifth, senior first baseman Bethany Kemp hit a two-run home run. It was her 15th home run of the season, which was ties her with senior Amber Freeman for the team's lead (Freeman also homered in the game).
In the sixth inning, junior center fielder Jennifer Soria made a sensational leaping catch to rob LaRosa of a potential second home run of the game.
Hey @SportsCenter!! Check out this #SCTop10 highway robbery by @jennsoria5 against @UCLASoftball! http://t.co/RvayMr2qyx
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) May 9, 2015
ASU also attempted a late rally against UCLA pitcher Selina Ta'amilo with the first three batters reaching in the seventh, but the Bruins brought Carda back on the mound to retire the side.
The rubber match of the series is at 5 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks on Saturday. It is the final game of the season at Farrington Stadium, assuming the Sun Devils aren't awarded a home regional. ASU will be honoring its five seniors on Senior Day.
After No. 1 Oregon lost to Arizona earlier in the day, UCLA could earn a split of the Pac-12 if it wins on Saturday and the Ducks lose as well.
Reach the reporter at jmjanss1@asu.edu or follow @jjanssen11 on Twitter
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