Contrades' walk-off homer leads baseball to comeback series win vs. No. 22 KU

by Danny Sullivan and Zach Romesburg, SDA Media Relations

BOX SCORE

PHOENIX – In a furious back-and-forth affair, Sun Devil Baseball came out victorious in Sunday's rubber match against the #22 Kansas Jayhawks, 7-6, behind Nu'u Contrades' walk-off ninth inning homer.
 
Muni Magic was in full swing in front of a very solid Sunday crowd of 3,827, capping off a four-game set this week with a combined 18,528 fans in a contest that featured six different lead changes - two of which coming in the ninth inning. 
 
The Jayhawks (18-6, 3-3 Big 12) took a 6-5 lead in the top of the ninth on a two-out opposite field home run with ASU just two strikes away from putting the game away. Unfazed, Landon Hairston led the bottom of the ninth off with a single and Contrades fouled off four pitches before sending one the opposite way into the home bullpen for the walk-off two-run homer to give ASU (16-8, 4-2 Big 12) its second series victory in as many weekends of Big 12 action. 
 
The top of the ASU order of Kyle Walker, Hairston and Contrades recorded six of ASU's 11 hits. Isaiah Jackson recorded a two-run homer and Jacob Tobias had a go-ahead two-run, two-out double in the bottom of the seventh that would have been the game-winner if not for KU's late heroics.
 
The Sun Devils used five pitchers to largely stymie Kansas' potent offense, holding KU to six runs on 11 hits and stranding 11 Jayhawk batters. Kansas scored 15 runs total on the weekend after entering the weekend ranked 10th in the country and tops in the Big 12 in scoring 9.9 runs per game. 
 
ASU now sets its sights on four straight road games, starting Tuesday evening with a non-conference road game at UNLV at Las Vegas Ballpark before heading over to Utah to take on the Utes in Salt Lake City in a three-game Big 12 series starting Friday at Smith's Ballpark.
 
TURNING POINT 
The sixth inning was a rocky road for ASU. The Jayhawks had a lot of traffic on the bases which ultimately led to runners in scoring position opportunities on multiple occasions. Kansas was awarded a free pass after a walk, and a passed ball plated a run to tie things up at 3-3. Another walk then loaded the bases with just one out and was the end of Wyatt Halvorson's day. Sean Fitzpatrick was called upon and nearly escaped the jam unscathed, but Kansas plated another run after a bang-bang play at first resulted in a fielder's choice to make it 4-3. Fitzpatrick was able to evade the threat by getting the final batter to retire on a flyout before critical damage could be had, keeping his team well within striking distance. 
 
BIG MOMENT 
ASU had a pair of one-out baserunners looking to tie or take the lead in the bottom of the seventh but a flyout put ASU in jeopardy of not capitalizing on the threat. The veteran Jacob Tobias ensured that would be the case as he delivered with an opposite double to bring both runners in woth two outs to regain a one-run lead, giving momentum to the Sun Devils lineup that seemed to have been lost since the fourth inning. 
 
FINAL STRAW
After the Jayhawks took the lead on their last life in the top of ninth, it was time for a Sun Devil rally. Youngster Landon Hairston rose to the occasion, leading off the bottom of ninth with a huge base hit to set the table. It was Nu'u Contrades with the chance to keep things rolling for his team. Contrades worked a lengthy at-bat, ultimately taking the seventh pitch of the sequence for a ride to right field with its final destination into the home bullpen. As the ball landed, the game concluded with the Sun Devils on top thanks to Contrades' swing of the season. 
 
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Nu'u Contrades played the hero in this one with his opposite field walk-off bomb to give ASU the series win. It was the first walk-off homer of Contrades career and he was the first Sun Devil to do so via home run since Nick McLain's walk-off grand slam on May 3, 2024 against Washington (W, 11-7).
 
NOTABLES

• Nu'u Contrades has reached base safely in all 24 games this season and has reached in 32 consecutive games dating back to his freshman season after reaching in all five games in his injury shortened sophomore campaign and the last three of 2023
• Kyle Walker extended his team-leading hitting streak to 12 games, which marks the longest for a Sun Devil this season. He has five straight multi-hit performances as well.
• In six conference games this season, Kyle Walker is batting .520 on 13-of-25 hitting with a team-leading eight runs scored. Walker is now the ASU leader in season batting average at .353 - an incredibly notable feat as the senior was batting .083 as of Feb. 25 and was still below the Mendoza line as recent as March 7.
• Kansas OF Jackson Hauge was named NCBWA Dick Howser Trophy National Hitter of the Week on Tuesday and Big 12 Player of the Week on Monday. Hauge hit .421/.593/1.263 (8-for-19), with four doubles, four home runs, 14 RBIs, six runs scored, seven walks and a 1.856 OPS in five games last week. Sun Devils pitchers held Hauge to a mere .153 batting average (2-for-13) after the red hot week.
• Kansas came into the weekend with 46 home runs, good for the most in the Big 12 and 6th nationally. Last week against Minnesota and Baylor, Kansas slugged 16 home runs over a four game stretch. Sun Devil pitchers limited them to just three homers over the three-games in Muni's notoriously batter-friendly confines.
• Big innings have been the theme of ASU's season as the team has now scored in 81 halves of an inning on the year and have plated two or more runs in 51 of those.  
• ASU has outscored teams 429-245 over its last 44 games dating back to last season, posting a 31-13 record in those and 31-11 in the regular season
• With only four strikeouts today, the Sun Devils now have five games this season in which the team has struck out fewer than five times - notable as that already matches the team's total for the ENTIRE SEASON a year ago.
• ASU has 10 or more hits in 12 games this season - picking up 11 today
• Arizona State has now combined to score 57 runs over their past five conference games (11.4 rpg).
• Freshman Landon Hairston has been on a tear over his past ten games. He is hitting .400 (14-35) with four RBI and five multi-hit efforts. His season average has risen from .222 to .333 during that span.
• Jaden Alba has stranded 17 batters in 14.0 innings pitched this season (2 today). He has held opponents to just 5-for-29 (.172) hitting with runners in scoring position (1-for-4 today).
• Sun Devil pitchers struck out double digit batters for the 16th time in 24 games.
• ASU is now 5-4 in one run games and 8-5 in games decided by two runs or less after going 11-13 in such games last year.
• The Sun Devils now move to 11-0 in day games this year.

QUOTABLES 
Head Coach Willie Bloomquist 
On what this win does for the trajectory of this team
"It was great resiliency by our guys today by a large part of a pretty sloppy game. I think we just made a lot of mistakes defensively behind the plate, base running and walked a lot of guys. We were uncharacteristic of how we've been playing, but to be able to bounce back after giving up the lead in the ninth with two outs, which seemed like that game was just about over or was just about over. To be able to bounce back and come away with a win is just a sign of a good team that's resilient and not willing to give in. So that part I'm extremely happy and proud of those guys in there. If we can clean up the other stuff and hopefully not make it as dramatic, that would be helpful. But at the end of the day coming away with a big win against a pretty dang good Kansas team was big for us. So step in the right direction and we'll hopefully carry this momentum."
 
On how he picked up Lucas Kelly after the top of the ninth
"It happens. He's made 11 appearances and hasn't given up a run. He was one strike away or two strikes away from closing that one out and just being lights out. He's been outstanding all year. He maybe made a mistake. I haven't seen where that pitch was, but the kid put a good swing on it. So the great part about him is he bounced back and was able to not give up any more and give our offense a chance in the bottom half. So obviously he doesn't want to hear that right now, but I look at how a guy bounces back and he came back and attacked the next hitter and got us back in offensively to give us a chance."
 
On Nu'u Contrades coming through in the end after dealing through so much adversity
"That's what makes coaching a lot of fun. You get to see the work these kids put in behind the scenes and you know the ups and downs, blood, sweat and tears behind the scenes that nobody else does. And they get to put it all to fruition at a big moment, it's pretty gratifying as a coach to see a great kid come through in that situation. He's been through a lot, obviously with the injury last year and he's been really working hard to find a swing this year and get it back right. And he's getting very, very close. Maybe he's there now with that homer. Just seeing that he made a little adjustment today early before the game today in batting practice and put it into use there in that ninth inning and it came through. When you see those things carry over into a game and have success in a key moment, kind of cool as a coach. I guess that that's where you get your emotional highs as a coach when your kids come through and do what they were taught. So it was pretty neat."
 
Infielder Nu'u Contrades
On walk-off home run 
"It was surreal. I give all the glory and praise to Jesus. He just gave me the strength and confidence to come through in that moment. I didn't come through earlier in the game, but I'm so lucky to have such a good lineup behind me - Toby (Jacob Tobias) coming through with that double. I was just going in there with confidence." 
 
On how to build off the win 
"Just coming ready to play every day. Bloomy's just been harping on us to bring the same mindset every day that we're gonna go out and play our hardest. We just need to mentally be there every day. And I think if we keep on this road, I think good things are gonna come."
 
Infielder Jacob Tobias 
On clutch two-run double 
"Obviously being an older guy and sort of a veteran on the team, I just know that being able to stay cool and calm in those situations is really big, especially for some of the younger guys we have not only on the mound, but in the lineup. I know going to the plate that I trust in my abilities with all my heart, and so just being able to trust what I do. I got a good pitch to hit and it worked out." 
 
On electric weekend atmosphere 
"Unbelievable. I can't even remember the last time I've seen this place like that. It was awesome. Even 30 minutes before game time you go out there and there's already probably 4000 people there. The fact that we have so much trust in the fan base here and love of the community, it's so awesome to see, and we hope that it gets even better as the year goes on."
 
Outfielder Landon Hairston 
On timely late game hitting 
I mean just getting back to my approach. I think early on in the game I was just trying to do too much. Those guys are pretty good over there, so being at the top of the lineup puts a little bit of pressure on. But I think as the game went on, I kind of settled in, stuck to my approach and just tried to get on any way I could.
 
On transitioning to the outfield in Kien Vu's absence
"Losing Kien is pretty tough. He's a big bat in our lineup, so we always want him out there. But trying to get comfortable in right field, taking a lot of reps and BP and in practice and for the most part, I think I'm doing ok. (I) could do a little better on the reads, overall feeling pretty good about it." 
 
Pitcher Wyatt Halvorson 
On bullpens performance over the weekend 
"I think it's just what we did all fall carrying it from the end of the season. Growing confidence as we continue to get in there. Our bullpen, I think, is really, really good when we're all on our game. Just getting in there, throwing strikes, growing confidence like I said, and we're going to be tough to hit if we're all at our best. 
 
INNING BY INNING 
First Inning
Jaden Alba took the mound to kick off the Sunday afternoon matchup for the Sun Devils. The Jayhawks' hitters soon got to Alba, as a single was followed by a double down the left-field line. Another single to center field followed by a sac-fly brought in two runners for Kansas, quickly bringing it to 2-0. Alba stayed the course and closed the frame, passing the torch to the offense. 
 
Kyle Walker got things going with a single to center field but the following order was not able to take advantage of the opportunity and retired in order. 
 
Second Inning 
After walking the first batter at the plate, Alba got Kansas to roll into a 5-4-3 double play and drew a quick groundout to end the inning with a zero on the board. 
 
Brandon Compton got on base by way of a walk and swiped a bag en route to scoring on a passed ball to make it 2-1. ASU got a few runners on but groundout closed the frame, leaving two stranded on base. 
 
Third Inning 
Alba opened up the inning with a quick walk but remained calm under pressure and retired the rest of the order to keep it within one. 
 
Kyle Walker opened up the bottom of the frame with another single through the left side but was tagged attempting to steal second. Nu'u Contrades advanced to first by way of a walk but was not able to advance any further as the following batter struck out to end the inning.
 
Fourth Inning 
Wyatt Halvorson was called from the bullpen to relieve Jaden Alba to kick off the fourth inning. Halvorson had a solid frame, picking up a strikeout and leaving a Jayhawk stranded on first, keeping the Sun Devils within one. 
 
Brandon Compton opened up the bottom of the frame with a single through the right side. Isaiah Jackson stepped up to the plate and launched a nuke to right center for a two-run home run to give the Sun Devils a 3-2 lead. The rest of the batting order was retired.
 
Fifth Inning 
Halvorson got off to a hot start, retiring the first two batters while picking up a strikeout. A double down the right-field line followed but Halvorson stayed the course and struck out the next batter to hold onto a 3-2 lead. 
 
After the Sun Devils couldn't get anything going, Nu'u Contrades stepped up and delivered with a double to left field to get some momentum rolling. ASU couldn't contribute to the opportunity and left him stranded on second.
 
Sixth Inning 
The Jayhawks got things going in the sixth with a quick single to left field with an advancement to second by way of a wild pitch, followed by another single through the left side. Another wild pitch brought in a runner for Kansas, tying it up at three a piece. With bases loaded for the Jayhawks, Sean Fitzpatrick was called upon from the bullpen to relieve Halvorson of his duties. Fitzpatrick did what he could and only allowed one runner to advance home, trailing 4-3 with the offense on deck.
 
The Sun Devils weren't able to get anything going and retired down in order.
 
Seventh Inning 
Fitzpatrick remained on the mound to start the sixth and picked up a quick strikeout and was then relieved by Derek Schaefer. Schaefer racked up a quick strikeout as well and then struggled to find the middle of the plate. He never lost his composure and managed to close the frame, passing the torch to the offense. 
 
Kyle Walker reached first by way of a walk, followed by a singled up the middle by Landon Hairston to kick off the bottom of the seventh. Jacob Tobias stepped up to the plate with a huge opportunity and delivered with a two-run double to left center to retain a 5-4 lead heading into the eighth inning.  
 
Eighth Inning 
Schaefer had another solid frame, racking up two strikeouts and leaving two Jayhawks stranded on base. The right-handed slicer and dicer passed the torch to the offense with a 5-4 lead. 
 
Matt King immediately made an impact and doubled to left field to kick off the bottom of the eighth. A sac-fly by Isaiah Jackson led to King advancing to third, in prime condition to get another runner home for the Sun Devils. Josiah Cromwick was next up and reached on a fielder's choice while King was tagged at home. Jax Ryan followed that with a single to right field while Cromwick advanced all the way to third. A groundout left both Sun Devils stranded, heading into the ninth with a 5-4 lead.
 
Ninth Inning 
Lucas Kelly stepped up to the mound to relieve Derek Schaefer of his solid outing. Kelly picked up a quick strikeout, followed by a reach to first on a fielder's choice while the other Jayhawk was tagged at second. When the light's seemed too bright for Kansas, the next batter delivered a two-run home run to take a 6-5 lead over ASU. Kelly didn't fold under pressure and returned the Jayhawks to the dugout without any further damage. 
 
Landon Hairston got things going for the Sun Devils as he connected on a single to center field. Nu'u Contrades played the hero as he slammed a two-run walk-off homer to right center to win it for the Sun Devils. ASU took the series 2-1 with a 7-6 win in today's matchup.