Arizona Blanks North Dakota State 11-0

TUCSON, Ariz.--Kristen Arriola went 2 for 3 with six RBI and Shelby Babcock tossed a shutout as 13th-seeded Arizona defeated North Dakota State University 11-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tucson Regional played before 1,705 at Hillenbrand Stadium on Friday, May 18.

North Dakota State (37-21) is scheduled to play Hawai'i (44-8) at 7:30 p.m. (Central) Saturday, May 19, in a loser's out game. Arizona (36-17) is scheduled to play Notre Dame (39-14) at 5 p.m. The loser's bracket final is scheduled to be played at 10 p.m.

Arizona didn't get a hit in the first inning, but scored twice taking advantage of a pair of hit batters, a double steal, Lini Koria's squeeze bunt, a passed ball and an error. Koria had two RBI and scored twice.

The Wildcats blew things open with a five-run third inning. The second of three Bison errors opened the floodgates and Arriola hit a 3-1 pitch over the left field fence for a grand slam.

Another NDSU error kept the fourth inning alive. Arriola belted a two-run double to left center to highlight the frame for the Wildcats.

North Dakota State did have it's chances and outhit Arizona 7-5 in the game. The Bison had runners in scoring position including loading the bases in the third, but Babcock worked out of each of the jams. Katie Tamayo had a double and single for NDSU.

Babock struck out six and walked one to improve to 20-9.

Krista Menke (24-12) worked the first two innings. Menke walked three, hit two, and allowed a pair of unearned runs. Whitney Johnson worked the last two. Johnson walked five, scattered four hits and allowed only four earned runs.