TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Arizona Wildcats return to Hi Corbett Field Tuesday night to host New Mexico State. 

Sophomore left-hander Randy Labaut will start for the Wildcats. 

Below is a full preview:

Date        Time (MST)    Location (Ballpark)                        Probable Starters
Tue. Feb. 27    6 p.m.    Tucson, Ariz. (Hi Corbett Field)    RHP Brock Whittlesey vs. LHP Randy Labaut

Live Stream: Available through ArizonaWildcats.com
Live Stats: Available through ArizonaLiveStats.com

Leading Off...
•    Arizona is set to host New Mexico State in a midweek affair, marking the Wildcats' lone home game during an eight-game stretch.
•    The Wildcats played four in San Diego last weekend, and will head to Minneapolis on Wednesday in advance of three games at US Bank Stadium for the Dairy Queen Pac-12/Big 10 Challenge.
•    The Wildcats return home next week to play four straight at Hi Corbett against San Diego State and North Dakota State, before heading back on the road for four more.
•    Pitching and defense have been the calling cards for the 2018 Wildcats so far. Arizona has a staff ERA of 1.87 and a .985 fielding percentage. Opposing batters are hitting just .205 against Arizona pitching. 
•    The 16 runs allowed through seven games by Arizona pitchers are the fewest allowed since 2011. The Wildcats have yet to allow more than five runs in a game. The last time Arizona didn't allow more than five runs in one of their first seven runs was 1974.
•    Sophomore left-hander Randy Labaut will start his second game of the season against New Mexico State after seven dominant innings last week against Arkansas in a midweek affair. 
•    Arizona fans will receive a Trevor Hoffman collector card at tonight's game, the first of 10 collector cards to be offered this season.
    
Some Game Themes: After dropping three games by a total of four runs in San Diego, the Arizona Wildcats will look to rebound on their home field Tuesday night against New Mexico State…The two programs have met four times over the past two seasons…Arizona is 4-0 against New Mexico State since coach Jay Johnson took over the Wildcats…The Cats have scored at least six runs in each of the four games against the Aggies with scores of 6-3, 11-2, 11-8 and 8-7…Arizona went 6-3 in true midweek games a season ago, after dropping their first two of the season to Texas Tech and Cal State Fullerton…The Wildcats have lost their first midweek this season, dropping a 1-0 affair to Arkansas last week in San Diego…After dropping its first two midweek contests last season, Arizona won six straight before suffering a loss in its final midweek of the season to Arizona State…New Mexico State has already proven to be one of the top offensive clubs in the country this season…The Aggies have scored 117 runs in seven games and are batting .399 as a team…The Aggies have 21 doubles, six triples and six home runs in just seven games with a .593 slugging percentage…Coach Brian Green's team went to work last weekend against Mississippi Valley State, winning 39-0 in the first game, before a 20-0 win and a 15-4 triumph….Coincidentally, NMSU was shut out in its first midweek of the season, falling to Texas Tech 12-0 last week…The Aggies are expected to throw several arms against the Wildcats, but right-hander Brock Whittlesey will get the start…Whittlesey has tossed 5 2/3 innings so far this season, allowing two hits, one run, and striking out six, while walking two…Opposing batters are hitting just .111 against him so far…Noah Haupt leads the team with a .591 average and is 13 for 22 on the season with 17 RBI in 22 at-bats…Arizona first baseman Alfonso Rivas enters tonight's game with 98 career RBI, looking to get to 100…The next highest RBI total by a current Wildcat is Cesar Salazar's 68…Nick Quintana hit his 20th career double last weekend against San Diego, and seven games into his sophomore season, is on pace to topple the school record of 60 career doubles.  

No Runs for You: In Coach Jay Johnson's first season at Arizona in 2016, the Wildcats surrendered 44 total runs through their first seven games of the season. Last season, Arizona gave up 34 runs in its first seven contests. This year, that number has been drastically reduced. Arizona has given up just 16 runs in its first seven games this season, which is the program's lowest total since 2011 when the pitching staff allowed just 14 runs. From 2012 to 2017, the fewest amount of runs Arizona surrendered in its first seven was 25 in 2015. Arizona hasn't allowed more than five runs in a game. The last time Arizona didn't give up more than five runs in a game through its first seven was 1973. 
Runs Allowed Through Seven Games Since 2011
Year            Runs Allowed
2018            16
2017            34
2016            44
2015            25
2014            29
2013            27
2012            28
2011            14

What a Start: Arizona pitching has set the tone for the season thus far. Arizona has a staff ERA of just 1.87 so far this season, allowing just 43 hits in 62 2/3 total innings. Wildcat pitchers have combined to strike out 57, while allowing 30 walks. Opposing batters are hitting just .205 against Arizona pitching with seven extra-base hits in seven games. It's been a collective effort from the start with six pitchers having already logged five or more innings. Senior Robby Medel leads the team in appearances with four and has posted five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out four. Junior left-hander Avery Weems leads the team in innings with 14 1/3 over three appearances and two starts. Weems is 1-1 with a 1.26 ERA.  

Digging Deeper: Coach Dave Lawn's pitching staff has done several things very well early in the season. First, left-handed hitters are batting just .179 against Arizona pitching, combining to go 17 for 95 so far. Right-handed starters Cody Deason and Michael Flynn have been especially tough on lefties, allowing them to go just 5 for 37 for a .135 average. Another area where Arizona pitchers have excelled is with runners on base. Opposing hitters are just 16 for 91 with runners on for a .176 average. And once Arizona pitchers get to two outs, there's a good shot they're finishing off the inning clean. Opposing batters are just 9 for 60 (.150) with two outs against Arizona pitching. With runners in scoring position, it's not much better with the opposition hitting 9 for 49 in that situation. 

A Very Good Avery: Junior left-hander Avery Weems will undoubtedly draw comparisons to another recent Arizona lefty this season in JC Cloney. Weems, who is wearing the same number Cloney donned – 27—has looked as dangerous as Arizona's Opening Day starter in 2016 and 17. Weems made his Arizona debut in the finale of the Bryant series, drawing the Sunday start. He had an impressive start to his career, going 5 2/3 innings, allowing just one run on six hits, while striking out three and walking two. Weems then showed off his versatility, appearing in relief at San Diego State the following Friday. Weems tossed 2 2/3 hitless innings against the Aztecs, striking out four. Two days later, Weems drew his second start of the season against San Diego. He didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning and went six innings total, allowing just three hits. He allowed four runs, but only one was earned in a 5-3 loss to the Toreros. A Flagstaff native, Weems spent the previous two seasons as Yavapai Junior College in Prescott. 

Randy's Dandy: Sophomore left-hander Randy Labaut had the best outing of his Arizona career Wednesday against Arkansas. Labaut established new career highs in innings pitched (seven) and strikeouts (seven). He allowed just three hits, one run and no walks. Labaut's previous career high in strikeouts was four, done twice, and his career best in innings was six against USC last season. Labaut made a pair of relief appearances against Bryant, and has tossed 8 1/3 innings, this season, allowing six hits, one run, one walk and eight strikeouts. The lefty will draw his second start of the season against the Aggies and look to build off his stellar start against the then fourth-ranked Razorbacks. Labaut has a 1.08 ERA so far this season with hitters batting just .2017 against him. Labaut has shown much better control this season, walking one in 8 1/3. Last season, Labaut walked 22 in 31 2/3 innings, compared to 23 strikeouts. The only run Labaut surrendered against Arkansas was a solo home run, which interestingly was the first home run he's allowed in his career. 

Gil's Hill: Arizona has gotten a strong contribution in the early season from freshman left-hander Gil Luna. Listed at 5-11, 170, Luna has a big left arm on a frame that's still growing. The Casa Grande native has already appeared three times and has struck out six in 3 2/3 innings. Luna has allowed just one hit. He was especially impressive in relief of Labaut against Arkansas, coming in and throwing 1 1/3 hitless innings, while striking out three against one of the SEC's best offenses. He allowed his first run of the season against Michigan, going 1 1/3 innings again. Lefties are 0 for 8 against Luna so far this season, and batters are 0 for 7 against him with runners on base. 

Medel the Middleman: Robby Medel has proven he doesn't much care for roles. He'll start, pitch in middle relief and is comfortable closing out games. Medel started eight games as a freshman back in 2015, but has since moved to the bullpen where he's become a valuable piece to a strong group. Medel has yet to allow a run in five innings this season, giving up just two hits and one walk. He's struck out four and earned the first save of his career during the opening weekend against Bryant. Medel then earned his first win since 2016 last weekend against Michigan when he tossed a scoreless inning. Medel will handle various spots for the Wildcats this season, and is especially tough on lefties, who are 0 for 5 against him so far this season. Medel has also yet to allow a leadoff man to reach against him, and batters are 0 for 5 against him with two outs. The leader of the dugout, Medel has been a part of two NCAA Tournament teams and has seen his team win at least 30 games in each of his three full seasons at Arizona. The righty has been a part of 122 wins in his Arizona career. 

Cody Ballgame: After a strong summer in the Cape Cod League, Cody Deason has drawn the first two Friday night assignments for the Wildcats and has pitched well both times out. He tossed seven shutout innings against Bryant, working around five walks. Against San Diego State, Deason went 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits, while striking out six. The six strikeouts tied a career high for the junior right-hander. Deason allowed two runs in the first inning against the Aztecs, before settling down and turning in a strong start against a potent offensive lineup. Batters are just 1 for 12 against Deason with two outs. Something else to watch with Deason is the run game. Opposing runners are 0 for 3 against Deason and catcher Cesar Salazar so far this season.

"T" Time: Junior right-hander Tylor Megill has been strong at the end of games for Arizona so far this season, already totaling two saves in three opportunities. Perhaps more impressive was Megill's response Saturday against Michigan. After tossing a wild pitch, which allowed the winning run to score against San Diego State, Megill tossed 2 1/3 perfect innings against Michigan to earn his second save of the season. He struck out three, needing just 32 pitches total. He's been Arizona's most effective pitcher against righties, with opposing right-handed hitters just 1 for 12 against Megill. All total, opposing batters are hitting just .167 against him, and he's yet to allow an extra-base hit on the season. 

First Up: Junior Alfonso Rivas manned left field as a freshman, before mainly handling the designated hitter role last year as a sophomore. This year, Rivas will move to first base to take over for JJ Matijevic. Rivas was named first-team preseason All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) and a second-team pick by D1Baseball and a third-team selection by Baseball America. He's already backing it up this season, batting .333 through his first seven games. Rivas leads the team in hits and RBI and has Arizona's lone home run of the season. Rivas drove in a career-high six runs against Michigan in Arizona's 9-5 win in San Diego. He went 3 for 5 against the Wolverines, finishing a triple short of the cycle. Rivas is hitting .353 against lefties in the early going this season and is batting .462 (6 for 13) with runners on base this season. Rivas enters the New Mexico State game with a current five-game hitting streak and has reached base in all seven contests so far this season.