LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - It wasn't easy, but it was worth it. UNLV softball looked like it was cruising to its first series victory over UNR since 2015 with a commanding four-run lead in the sixth inning, but the Wolf Pack made the Rebels work for it. UNR (19-23, 8-11) scored five runs in the top of the sixth to not just erase the lead UNLV (26-16, 8-9) had built but take a one-run lead of its own. The Rebels made it short-lived, however, thanks to senior Janine Petmecky coming up big with a two-run home run to put the Rebels up for good at 7-6. Petmecky put a bow on it, pitching a scoreless seventh, including a strikeout to end the game.

The game and series victory means UNLV will pick up three more points in the Governor's Series, the annual all-sports competition between the in-state rivals sponsored by Nevada Energy and Barrick Gold. Heading into the weekend the two schools were tied at 18.

After losing three straight Mountain West series, the Rebels have assured themselves of its second straight series victory and have won five of their last six dating back to the series finale against San Diego State on April 8. This also comes after a streak of seven straight league losses.

The 26 wins surpass the Rebels' 2017 season total and are the program's most since winning 27 in 2011. The eight league wins also matches last year's total with seven games left to play.

Charlie Masterson was the UNLV starter and pitched solidly until things unraveled in the sixth. She was tagged with all six runs in 5.2 innings pitched in the no decision. Petmecky entered with two outs in the sixth and although one run did score, she got out of the inning to keep the Rebels within one.

UNLV went up 2-0 early in the first inning without registering a hit after Petmecky reached on a dropped third strike, Justine Federe walked and a Brooke Stover sacrifice fly scored both after an errant UNR throw. After the Wolf Pack cut it to 2-1, Myranda Bueno got the run back with a two-out RBI single through the right side in the second. The Rebels added two important runs in the fifth on a Stover two-run single up the middle to give her four RBI on the day.

The next inning saw seven total runs - five by UNR and two more by UNLV on the Petmecky homer - and it was just enough for the Rebels to escape with the one-run win.

On Sunday, the Scarlet and Gray will have a chance to sweep UNR for the first time since 2014.

THE TURNING POINT: The Rebels easily could have packed it in and gave up after blowing the four-run lead, but they didn't waver. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Myranda Bueno hustled out an infield single to put a runner on with the top of the lineup coming to the plate. That allowed Petmecky's heroics a few pitches later.

REBEL OF THE GAME: Hard to argue against Petmecky. The senior has been a major reason the Rebels have seen success under first-year head coach Kristie Fox. For the game, she went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI on the game-winning homer. She wasn't done there, though, as she pitched 1.1 scoreless frames and put an exclamation mark on it, freezing the last batter with her final pitch for the strikeout. It was her 17th win of the season - the most since former Rebel great Amanda Oliveto had 18 in 2013. After hitting just one home run through the first 39 games, Petmecky has hit three over the the last three games. Fellow senior Stover deserves a shoutout as well with her game-high four RBI.

STAT OF THE GAME: Masterson and co. forced the Wolf Pack to leave seven baserunners stranded, several of them in scoring position, which proved to be huge in the eventual one-run victory.

QUOTABLE: Head coach Kristie Fox: