LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Matalasi Faapito pitched the first no-hitter by an Aggie since Alex Newman on May 20, 2011, in an 8-0 win over Tarleton State Friday afternoon at the NM State Softball Complex. Faapito wasn't the only pitcher to shine, as Chloe Rivas tossed a complete-game shutout in a 2-0 win in the second game of the day. The Aggies improved to 20-18 on the year and 5-3 in the WAC while the Texans dropped to 14-27 and 3-5 in the WAC. 

Game One
Faapito put together one of the greatest pitching performances in Aggie history in game one of the doubleheader. Faapito tossed a no-hitter and allowed just two runners to reach base, both in third inning. Faapito struck out five Texan batters while throwing just 68 pitches. 

In the batter's box, it was the Nikki Butler show, as she crushed a two-run home run in the third inning and a grand slam in the fourth inning. After a RBI single from Hope Banales in the second inning, Butler stepped up to the plate and drove an outside pitch into the wind in right field. In the fourth inning, Butler went right down the left field line for her first grand slam of the year. Gabby Aragon drove in one more run in the fourth inning on a single to give the Aggies the 8-0 lead. Faapito closed the game out in the fifth inning with two strikeouts and a groundout to give her the no-hitter. 

Game Two
The Aggie bats cooled off in game two, but a phenomenal performance by Rivas kept the Texans off the board in the 2-0 victory. Rivas picked up right where her teammate Faapito left off. Rivas struck out the side in the first inning and did not give up a hit until the fourth inning. 

Brianna Gallegos broke the tie in the bottom of the fourth inning, as she led off with her first home run of her collegiate career. Faapito gave the Aggies a little more insurance on a RBI single to score Rivas. 

Rivas didn't let the Texans gain any momentum on offense, as she retired the final seven batters. Rivas gave up just three hits while tying her career high with seven strikeouts. This was Rivas' third complete game of the season. 

The Aggies will conclude its series with the Texans tomorrow at 1 p.m. Tickets will be available at noon at the front gate. The game will also be streamed live on the WAC Digital Network. 

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Notes

• Matalasi Faapito's no-hitter was the first no-hitter since Alex Newman on May 20, 2011, against Texas Tech in the NCAA Tournament. 
• Faapito was the first WAC pitcher to throw a no-hitter this season
• Today was the first time the Aggies have shut out its opponent in back-to-back games since Apr. 23, 2019, and Apr. 26, 2019, when they shut out Grand Canyon and New Mexico. 
• Nikki Butler had her first multi-home run game since Apr. 2, 2019, against New Mexico.
• Brianna Gallegos recorded her first home run of her collegiate career. Gallegos hit a home run last weekend against Team Mexico, but due to the game being counted as an exhibition, it is not counted towards her season statistics. 
• Chloe Rivas tied her career high of seven strikeouts. 
• Rivas threw her first complete-game shutout of her career.