LOGAN, Utah (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball team (15-20 overall, 1-6 Mountain West) suffered a deflating, 9-8 loss to the Utah State Aggies (12-21, 4-3) Thursday afternoon at Johnson Field. The Rebels, who overcame a six-run deficit by scoring eight straight runs - including seven in the sixth inning, were unable to keep the Aggies off the scoreboard in the seventh.

Thursday's affair marked the fourth straight outing that UNLV has participated in that was in doubt until the final at-bat.

After seeing UNLV stake itself to a two-run lead heading into the home half of the seventh, USU strung together four straight hits to produce three runs for the come-from-behind victory as snow flurries fell from the sky. Brina Buttacavoli and Sarah Chow got the offensive going with back-to-back singles before Jolene Koons brought them home with a triple to right field. The contest came to a close one batter later when Hailey Froton laced a single up the middle for the walk-off single.

Through five innings, the home-standing Aggies had a firm grasp on Thursday's bout with a six-run lead built off of 12 hits, but things turned in the sixth. The Rebel offense awoke in the sixth to swing the momentum to the visitors' side. Following base hits by Garie Blando and Alyssa Cordova, Samantha Juarez hit a three-run home run to open the floodgates. Not to be outdone, Jamie DePippo and Brooke Stover went yard, as well, with a pair of two-run homers that also scored Fahren Glackin and Emilie Valadez, who had initially reached via a walk and a single, respectively.

The Scarlet & Gray upped its lead to two when Glackin and DePippo teamed up, once again, for some offense. Glackin worked her way onto the base paths and into scoring position when Noelle Johnson issued a base on balls and then uncorked a wild pitch. DePippo followed that with an RBI bloop single down the right-field line.

Buttacavoli had a hand in the game's first two scores with an RBI single in the second inning before she scored off a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

The Aggies left a total of 11 runners on the bases during the game and eight of those came in the tilt's first four stanzas - including bases-loaded opportunities in the second and third. In the fifth, they left one on, but not before Johnson and Nicole Arata hit back-to-back homers and Koons had an RBI double. Johnson's dinger was of the two-run variety, while Arata's was a solo shot.

Morgan Ettinger (6-8) was tagged with the loss in six innings of work after she gave up nine runs (eight earned) off of 16 hits and two walks.

Johnson picked up the win in complete-game fashion after she allowed eight runs off of 11 hits. She struck out six, but walked five.

The Rebels and Aggies return to Johnson Field Friday for the second game of the MW series. First pitch is slated for 3:00 pm MT (2:00 pm PT).

The Scarlet & Gray returns to Las Vegas for a midweek series against the Boise State Broncos April 7-8 at Eller Media Stadium.

NOTES: Thursday's game marked the second time that UNLV has hit three home runs in a game with the first instance occurring against UC Santa Barbara in an 18-10 win on Feb. 22 ... Thursday's game marked the first time that UNLV had hit three home runs in one inning since the 2011 edition did so in the seventh inning of a 17-13 loss to the #10/11 Washington Huskies.