Sometimes chemistry off the field translates on the field in big ways. For Arizona State baseball, the junior trio of Nu’u Contrades, Kien Vu and Isaiah Jackson carried the Sun Devils offensively in a 12-5 victory over Oral Roberts before returning home to celebrate.
That trio also lives with sophomore left fielder Brandon Compton who has played an enormous role in ASU’s 5-1 start but was quieter in Saturday’s game.
Contrades’ season ended prematurely in 2024 with a back injury and the 2025 campaign started slow for the veteran third baseman. He broke out Saturday with three hits including a 2-run home run in the fourth inning.
“It’s huge. (Contrades) feels like my brother so it’s really cool to see him thrive the way I know he can,” Vu said. “We’re also roommates so to be able to go home and celebrate this game but also celebrate the success of the team and do it all again tomorrow is pretty fun.”
Contrades broke through but had been on base in every game of the season for the Sun Devils prior to Saturday.
“I’m just trying to do my job in the leadoff role and get on as much as I can,” Contrades said.
Vu’s performance was impressive in its own right. The junior right fielder finished with three hits and his own two-run home run and also stole another base to continue an impressive start on the basepaths in the 2025 season.
Part of Vu’s motivation for stealing bases stems from some friendly competition between him and Contrades.
“Nu’u and I actually have a $50 bet for who has more bags by the end of the season,” Vu said. “So I’m smoking him right now and that’s really where I’m trying to go with this.”
Vu’s tally reached eight steals Saturday after a monster three-steal performance in Friday’s disappointing loss.
Jackson put together an impressive day at the plate in addition to his usual steady defense in center field to help ASU’s pitching. Especially on a day in which the sun caused Oral Roberts’ outfielders to have some serious problems. The junior went 2-4 with a pair of RBI. He flew around the bases for a two-run triple in the bottom of the third that scored two runners and helped ASU keep a steady lead. The ball slipped just under the glove of Oral Roberts senior right fielder Will Edmunson and rolled to the wall, allowing Jackson to showcase his speed and glide around the bases.
ASU head coach Willie Bloomquist touched on what’s changed in Jackson’s approach in the 2025 season.
“The biggest thing with (Jackson) is just consistent contact, consistent good contact, and aggressive to his zone,” Bloomquist said. “He’s turned a corner and is putting good solid contact and staying aggressive.”
His roommate Vu also lobbied praise in his direction after an impressive start to the series.
“(Jackson) has it in him to have weekends like this and even do better,” Vu said. “He’s another one of my roommates … so it’s really cool having that house of success and then knowing that we continue to push each other to do better.”
Vu added that the vibes will be good in the house Saturday night but that the job won’t be done until the Sun Devils salvage a series win Sunday afternoon. He also said that Friday’s loss led to some reflection among the roommates. Bloomquist thought the energy improved between Friday and Saturday, in large part due to the performances at the plate by that group.
The ‘House of Success’ foursome will need to keep the impressive at-bats going to secure a 6-1 start in Sunday’s noon matchup with Oral Roberts.
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