PHOENIX —  No player is immune to injury, and Arizona State junior second baseman Nu’u Contrades knows that better than anyone. 

While posting career highs in multiple offensive categories, the second baseman missed the final month of 2025 after appearing in just five games due to injury the season prior. Entering his fourth season in Tempe, Contrades has yet to play a full season away from the shelf.

Safe to say, the baseball gods owed Contrades a break.

Perhaps that break came on Friday evening. 

Behind a two-hit, three-run performance, the Sun Devils’ (1-0) captain led the charge against the University of Omaha (0-1), winning 7-2 on Friday, Feb. 13, at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. In front of the second-highest attendance for an opening-night game, head coach Willie Bloomquist said he wasn’t surprised Contrades captured the limelight.

“Nu’u (Contrades) is a special talent,” Bloomquist said. “I've said that from when he was a freshman and coming into his sophomore year … When he's right, he's our best player.” 

From the jump, the veteran’s presence took over the game. 

Following a leadoff single — ASU’s first hit of the campaign — in the third inning, Contrades created havoc on the basepaths, stealing second, third and scoring after forcing an errant throw by Omaha senior catcher Brody Sexton, which caromed up the left field line. 

“We are going to try and cause havoc in any way possible,” Contrades said. “Bloomy (Bloomquist) gave me the green lights.” 

Hitting in the four spot, the Mavericks failed to retire the second baseman, stabilizing a lineup with eight new faces from the 2025 season opener against Ohio State.

“It's nice to see him back healthy again, and giving our offense, just our whole team, a shot in the arm, which he's capable of doing,” Bloomquist said. 

From that Sun Devils’ 9-8 win over the Buckeyes a season ago, Contrades was the lone returner in the lineup on Friday night. 

“With everything he's been through, the adversity he's been through, that's kind of why his teammates respect the heck out of him. I respect the heck out of him,” Bloomquist said, “and it's why he was named team captain, because he's earned it.”

Being a captain and one of the team’s only four-year Sun Devils, Bloomquist said he didn’t worry when moving Contrades off his primary position of third base. 

“(I’m) not surprised, he put a lot of work in making that transition to that side of the infield,” Bloomquist said. “Just a great job.” 

Early on, when we first moved him over there, he was a little rusty, but we kind of expected that. But he's worked extremely hard on it, and he's pretty good over there.” 

Aside from Contrades up the middle, junior shortstop PJ Moutzouridis splashed in his ASU debut. The California transfer reached base three times, including on a hustle infield single in the eighth that added an insurance run.

The shortstop said that with the evening’s wind and low-60s temperature, the offense worked on staying low and generating line drives over power, while maintaining an aggressive approach on the bases. 

“So as long as we kept doing that, putting pressure on them, it's a good spot for us,” Moutzouridis said. 

As one of the Sun Devils’ six transfers in the starting lineup, Moutzouridis said his roster has already formed a close bond worth fighting for. 

“When you're playing with a coaching staff like we have and the boys that we have on our team, it's hard to not play hard for each other,” Moutzouridis said. “I'm extremely blessed that I'm here, and I'm glad I get it back on my boys and my boys get it back on me.”

While providing premium offense and defense in the middle of the diamond, junior left-hander Cole Carlon took the ball and ran in his first collegiate start.  

The southpaw, who attended Corona Del Sol High School just 8.7 miles away from Phoenix Municipal Stadium, threw five innings of one-run ball on just 67 pitches. Carlon showcased a 98-mile-per-hour fastball, which may land him very high on the draft board come July. 

“I felt very good, feel like I could have gone more,” Carlon said. “Obviously, pitch count, we are looking after that early on, felt like I was able to hold my stuff pretty good. I'm pretty sure that was my longest outing that I've had in my three years here.” 

With so much depth on the staff, Bloomquist said they’ll progressively build up their southpaw.

“We have guys that are ready to pitch, that are capable of pitching, so we don't have to rely on Carlon all year long … We have plenty of guys behind him. We got quite a bit of depth that I'm excited about,” Bloomquist said. 

On the surface, Carlon and Contrades’ journeys seem unrelated. One’s career defined by injuries, the other an All-American relief pitcher. Yet, their stoires interset at the same point: to win for each other and the Maroon and Gold faithful. 

“These guys are awesome. I mean, this team definitely feels different, like we everyone's playing for each other, and I'm really excited to see where this thing goes,” Contrades said.