PHOENIX — No. 22 Arizona State (19-6, 4-2 Big 12) handled business on Wednesday, March 25, against a New Mexico State (11-13, 3-3 CUSA) team that made the 383-mile trek up I-10 from Las Cruces, N.M. Behind an eight-run first inning and sophomore left fielder Landon Hairston’s team-leading 11th home run, the Sun Devils prevailed 10-4. 

Here are four takeaways from Wednesday night. 

READY TO PLAY 

After a near-disastrous Monday evening, when a 12-run lead dwindled to just a single run to UNLV, head coach Willie Bloomquist made sure his team learned its lesson in Las Vegas. 

“I think any type of a trap game was eliminated in the eighth inning on Monday,” Bloomquist said. “That was the trap, and we almost got bit, and that was probably one of the worst innings that I've been on the flip side of in a long time …  I think that was our wake-up call for there not being a trap tonight.”

Sandwiched in between a 12-11 thriller against UNLV and a home series against No. 17 West Virginia this upcoming weekend, Bloomquist said the Sun Devils focused solely on Tuesday night’s matchup, not falling into the near-trap game they encountered on Monday night.  

“I don't think they were worried about West Virginia today,” Bloomquist said. “Now that this game is over, we certainly are. But this team has been very good at just staying focused on the present and what we got today.” 

Bloomquist said they’ve set standards to perform to the highest level against any quality of opponent. 

“You have to come out and play consistently with the mental edge every time out there, regardless of the score. It doesn't matter,” Bloomquist said. “There's a standard to uphold, and whether from a team's perspective and from an individual perspective.” 

“(I) told them today, ‘Hey, we don't play West Virginia today. We play New Mexico State, and you have to come out ready to play. These guys are capable of putting up big numbers and being in a dogfight with us. So come out, set the tone,’ which they did a great job of,” Bloomquist said.

THE NU’U SHOW IN TOWN 

Following a 17-day hiatus from the ASU starting lineup, junior second baseman Nu’u Contrades picked up exactly where he left off. 

The second baseman launched a 455-foot three-run home run to left field – his seventh of the season – that chased New Mexico State starting pitcher Jaden Davis from the game before he recorded an out. 

“It's great to have his offense back in the lineup,” Bloomquist said, “and it really helps stretch that lineup out.”

Contrades kept things simple, saying it was awesome to enter the lineup without losing a step; however, the captain pivoted toward the entire lineup’s success rather than his own. 

“This team’s full of studs,” Contrades said. “Top to bottom, this is probably the best lineup and staff I've seen. It's been awesome.

“Obviously sucks not being able to play, but just knowing that these guys are awesome, they're going to step up.”

Contrades finished Wednesday night 3-for-4 with three RBI before sophomore Beckett Zavorek pinch ran for him in the sixth. 

Though back in the lineup, Bloomquist said they’ll proceed with caution, not wanting to re-aggravate Contrades’ lower leg injury. 

“Today, we knew we were going to play him five or six innings and see how many ab’s (at-bats) we can get him to gradually try to keep ramping him back up,” Bloomquist said. “Nu’u Contrades is not a lazy player. I just have given him orders to not run at full speed yet. Even though I think he can. Otherwise, he would not be out there. I just on the air on the side of caution.”

HOT AND COLD 

Despite an eight-run, seven-hit first inning, the Sun Devils collected five knocks over the proceeding seven frames, scoring two more runs. 

Bloomquist said his team lost its approach at the plate, attributing the offensive drop-off to fatigue from a packed schedule. 

“That was kind of the message after the game, just to keep grinding mentally more so than physically,” Bloomquist said.  “We're making some mental mistakes that I'm not real wild about, but again, did enough to get a win tonight.”

In the wake of an inconsistent offensive performance, Bloomquist singled out Hairston's 2-for-3 evening as a bright spot. 

“He just continues to be a staple a top of the lineup,” Bloomquist said. “He's a special kid, special player. He just continues to stick within himself.” 

Hairston said, unlike a season ago, when he’d get overly anxious at the plate, he’s kept his approach simple. 

“I think just looking for a good pitch to hit every at- bet, and if it's not that good of a pitch, I'm just taking until the next one,” Hairston said. 

PITCHING SURVIVES 

In response to a late-inning blunder in Las Vegas, the ASU pitching staff bounced back on Wednesday night. 

After a strong three innings by junior right-hander Colin Linder, a combination of five relievers patched together the final eighteen outs. Yet none more than junior right-handed pitcher Josh Butler stood out. 

The righty struck out five of the eight Aggies he faced over two innings, throwing with more conviction, Bloomquist said, compared to previous outings. 

“Understanding what type of pitcher he is and attacking with his strengths, I think, is going to be big for him moving forward,” Bloomquist said. “But that was another step in the right direction from him.”

Alongside Butler, Bloomquist pointed to graduate right-hander Colby Guy’s two-strikeout, scoreless inning as a hero of the night. 

With experienced starters like Guy and veteran relievers like senior left-hander Sean Fitzpatrick in the pen, Butler said he sees a group coming together at the best time. 

“This team just feels complete,” Butler said. “I think we are so tight-knit as a group, as a staff, as a complete team when we come together. Everyone knows that they're going to go out there, have success. We all trust each other to go out there and just be themselves.”