If Michelle Duncan had any lingering problems with her right wrist they were not apparent in her effort on Saturday morning.

Duncan, the Gilbert Tigers veteran ace, pitched a three-hit shutout and needed to be sharp as second seed Gilbert edged No. 15 seed Mesquite, 1-0, in the first round of the 5A-I state softball tournament at Gilbert High.

Duncan, who was hit by a pitch in her wrist three weeks ago and suffered a deep bone bruise, allowed three singles, walked one and struck out  nine to decision Central Region rival Mesquite for the fourth time this season. She lowered her  ERA from 0.98 to 0.94 and improved her record on the year to 20-4.

Gilbert (26-7) moves on to the second round at home on Tuesday where it will face Salpointe, a 4-0 winner over Xavier at 4 p.m.. Mesquite travels to Xavier for a loser's bracket game Tuesday, also at 4 p.m

"I came out and gave it my hardest," Duncan said. "I did what I do out there... I missed the game against Basha (a Gilbert loss) after I got hurt. I decided after that I couldn't be out any longer."

Duncan had to be on the top of her game because she was matched pitch for pitch by Mesquite's Katie Greco. Greco, who missed a good portion of the season with an injury, returned to pitching a couple weeks ago. This was her first appearance against Gilbert in the five meetings. The only run Greco allowed came in the bottom of the sixth on a mixture of a hit, walk and error.

Greco, who gave up six hits, walked one and fanned four, gave up a leadoff single to Dani Nelson in the Gilbert sixth. After getting a fly out she issued her only walk to Elysia Mesa. A fielder's choice grounder to short forced Nelson at third. With two out and runners at first and second Alexa Redmond grounded sharply to short. Mesa passed in front of Mesquite shortstop Alicia Enriquez. The ball rolled through Enriquez and plated Mesa for the lead and the win.

"I'm proud of these girls," Mesquite coach Jeff Shufelt said. "They play this way on Tuesday we'll be going on. .. MIchelle threw a great game and so did Katie. Someone had to get the W and someone had to get the loss."

Mesquite (12-19)  had a runner at second  three times -- twice with less than two outs -- but couldn't get to Duncan. Duncan retired the 3-4-5 hitters for Mesquite in the fourth after giving up a leadoff single and stolen base to McKensey Madsen. Madsen was hit by a pitch in the sixth and stole second again, but Duncan retired cleanup hitter Ayassa Vargas on foul pop to the catcher to end the inning. Duncan allowed a leadoff single to Jen Huerta in the seventh. Huerta was sacrificed to second. She remained there as Duncan fanned Sam Luttrell and Greco to finish the contest.