PHOENIX – Before the lights could come on, No. 22 Arizona State’s (19-6, 4-2 Big 12) bats mimicked the heat of the Arizona sun using an eight-run first inning to power past New Mexico State (11-13, 3-3 CUSA) 10-4 on Wednesday night.
The Sun Devils applied immediate pressure by loading the bases for their cleanup hitter, fifth-year right fielder Dean Toigo. He began the scoring onslaught with a two-run RBI double, his 15th extra base hit of the season.
On the next pitch, junior second basemen Nu’u Contrades sent the ball 455 feet over the left field wall for his sixth blast of the season. In the blink of an eye, the Devils poured in five runs.
NU’U CONTRADES IS BACK FOR THE SUN DEVILS WITH A FIRST PITCH 3-RUN HOME RUN
— Amya Zapien (@ZapienAmya) March 26, 2026
DEVILS LEAD 5-1 pic.twitter.com/NE2LdSLlor
After missing some time due to an injury, Contrades made an immediate impact in his return to the starting lineup. Coach Willie Bloomquist could not have been more pleased about the return of his star middle infielder.
“It is nice to have him back,” Bloomquist said.
The offense didn’t stop humming, as with two outs and junior first baseman Dominic Smaldino on second base, sophomore catcher Coen Niclai smoked a single to right to turn over the lineup and add to the ASU lead.
Sophomore left fielder Landon Hairston continued to apply pressure on New Mexico State, smacking a two-out base knock to set up junior shortstop PJ Moutzridis. Riding the wave of momentum, Moutzridis lined the first pitch into the right-center field gap for a two-run triple to complete the Sun Devils’ first-inning avalanche.
“This team is full of studs,” Contrades said. “Top to bottom, this is one of, if not the best, lineup and staff I’ve been with. It has been awesome.”
It marked the most runs scored in the first inning by Sparky this season, helping its arms settle in.
Junior right-hander Colin Linder recorded his fifth start in the Marron and Gold and tossed a season-high of six strikeouts. After allowing a lead-off home run, Linder settled in, allowing just one more earned run through three frames.
As a whole, ASU sat down 15 Aggies on strikes, including five from junior right-hander Josh Butler.
“JB (Butler) did a good job keeping guys off balance,” Bloomquist said. “He threw with a little bit better conviction today. The breaking stuff was good, and he started getting sink on the fastball. It was all very encouraging.”
ASU added to its lead in the bottom of the sixth. With two out and sophomore shortstop Beckett Zavorek on base, junior designated hitter Garret Michel nearly left the ballpark, still bringing home Zavorek on an RBI double.
Then, two days after being named to Baseball America’s Week 6 college team of the week, Hairston capped the Sun Devils scoring in the bottom of the seventh. Again with two outs, last season’s freshman All-American barreled up a pitch and sent it over the center field wall for his 11th home run of the season.
LANDON HAIRSTON SOLO SHOT EXTENDS THE LEAD TO 10-4@InfernoIntel pic.twitter.com/REFFBI9nDZ
— Amya Zapien (@ZapienAmya) March 26, 2026
“He (Hairston) has been amazing,” Bloomquist said. “He kind of goes unnoticed when he only has two hits even with the home run. But he walked twice as well and was on base four times tonight. He continues to be a staple at the top of the lineup. He is a special kid, a special player.”
With a looming conference clash with No. 17 West Virginia over the weekend, Wednesday had the markings of a trap game written all over it. However, the Sun Devils never flinched.
“I don’t think they were worried about West Virginia today,” Bloomquist said. “Now this game is over; they certainly are. But this team has done a good job staying focused on the present and what we got that day.”
Instead, the Sun Devils roll into the weekend after back-to-back double-digit offensive outings to take on the Mountaineers (17-4, 5-1 Big 12) for a three-game set at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
“I’m pumped,” Contrades said. “It’s going to be a tough matchup, but we are going to come ready.”
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