TUCSON, Ariz. – New Mexico State started its NCAA Tournament run with a loss to No. 2 Arizona on Friday. The Aggies were defeated 11-0 in five innings.
 
How it happened
 
The Wildcats (49-7) struck in the bottom of the first with a single to the pitcher. Katiyana Mauga followed by hitting a long ball over the left field fence, scoring the first two runs of the game.
 
NM State (29-24) had a chance to score in the top of the second. Kaitlyn Rubio battled back after being down in the count and walked for the Aggies' first base runner of the inning. Haley Nakamura reached on an error by Arizona, putting runners on first and second with two outs in the inning. Misty Hoohuli was unable to bring in the runners and the Aggies trailed 2-0 going into the bottom of the inning.
 
After Kayla Green pitched a scoreless second, she hit trouble in bottom of the third after a single and an error put runners on with one out, Tamara Statman hit a double to right center field, scoring two runs for the Wildcats. Samaria Diaz came in for Green and gave up a two-run homer to the first batter she faced. Arizona hit another homer, a three-run blast to right field, for the final runs of the inning.
 
The Wildcats scored two more run in the fourth giving UA an 11-0 advantage heading into the top of the fifth. The Aggies needed four runs to extend the game but could not get the offense going in the 11-0 shutout.
 
Green moved to 12-16 in the circle this season. She pitched 2.1 innings and allowed five runs on five hits. Danielle O'Toole earned the win, improving her record to 28-4 this season.
 
NM State is back in action on Saturday, May 20, when the Aggies take on St. Francis (Pa.) at 5:30 p.m. (MT).
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