ORLANDO, Fla. – On National Space Day and just 37 miles from the Kennedy Space Center, UCF took off to an early 2-0 lead after back-to-back home runs.

However, No. 19 Arizona State responded in full force with a barrage of offense to soar beyond the Knights and secure a series-opening victory. 

“They put up a couple of good swings there in the first, and we answered right back,” head coach Willie Bloomquist said.

In the first of a three-game series between Arizona State (32-14, 15-7 Big 12) and UCF (26-16, 14-8 Big 12) at John Euliano Park in Orlando, Florida, the Knights got consecutive home runs from senior catcher Zak Skinner and senior third baseman Javier Crespo to jump out to an early 2-0 lead. However, the Sun Devils responded in the next half-inning with three runs to take the lead, which they never surrendered en route to a 9-4 victory on Friday.

The most prolific member of the Sun Devils’ lineup on Friday was junior second baseman Nu’u Contrades, who went 4-for-6 with a double and three RBI.

Contrades said he made the most of good pitches, getting off his A-swing. 

Despite being hot at the plate, Contrades said he always tries to stay within himself and not let the moments get too big.

“My approach stays the same,” Contrades said. “Just trying to hit the ball hard the other way.”

As dominant as Contrades was, he was far from alone in the offensive attack. ASU had four other players record multi-hit games.

Among those were junior shortstop PJ Moutzouridis, who also had three RBI, and junior first baseman Dominic Smaldino, who recorded three hits.

Contrades praised the offense's group effort on Friday. 

“They did an awesome job putting runners in scoring position, and we did a good job cashing them in,” Contrades said.

Bloomquist said the offense is at its best when hitters put up consistently good at-bats, rather than relying on the home run.

“The long ball will come when we least expect it,” Bloomquist said. 

The lone home run for the Sun Devils on Friday came from another player with more than one base hit: junior designated hitter Garrett Michel.

Yet one of only two ASU batters without a hit was sophomore center fielder Landon Hairston, who saw his historic 28-game hitting streak come to an end. The last time Hairston failed to record a hit was March 13.

However, Hairston still got on base three times, twice from walks and once on a hit-by-pitch.

The hit-by-pitch came with the bases loaded, driving in a run, and Bloomquist said this was his favorite of Hairston’s six plate appearances.

“A lesser guy jumps out of the way of that so he can get another pitch,” Bloomquist said. “(Hairston) just wears it.”

Overall, the Sun Devils had eight batters reach base, with sophomore third baseman Austen Roellig the only batter not to.

Bloomquist said he sees his team’s depth as transcending even the No. 1-9 spots in the lineup and thinks they have 12 or 13 hitters capable of contributing, which is important coming down the stretch with some players needing rest. 

“We’re late in the year,” Bloomquist said. “Guys are going to need breathers.”

Bloomquist also pointed out that sophomore infielder Beckett Zavorek has played outstanding, but he wasn’t in the lineup Friday because of the team’s depth, especially with Contrades’ return to the infield.  

On the mound, junior left-handed pitcher Cole Carlon was able to settle in and earn the win after giving up that pair of home runs in the first. 

Carlon pitched five innings and gave up just one run beyond the first inning. 

Remaining confident, the left-hander said solo home runs wouldn’t break an outing.

“I’m just going to keep pounding the zone no matter what,” Carlon said.

Bloomquist noticed Carlon’s confidence as well.

“He continued to trust his stuff, and attack hitters and work ahead,” Bloomquist said.

The offense’s ability to answer immediately after Carlon gave up the two first-inning home runs also helped him bounce back. 

“That fired me up,” Carlon said. “I know the boys have my back.” 

Behind Carlon, sophomore right-hander Taylor Penn, senior left-hander Sean Fitzpatrick and junior right-hander Derek Schaefer combined for four innings of one-run ball to secure the victory.

In a pivotal series for Big 12 standings, where both teams entered with identical 14-7 conference records, the Sun Devils still have work ahead in the series despite improving to No. 42 in RPI following the victory.

“It’s not finished,” Contrades said. “We’ve got to go out and finish it.”