LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball team wrapped up the inaugural Boyd Gaming Rebel Classic with a 5-2 win over UTEP at Eller Media Stadium Sunday morning. The Rebels completed a 4-1 weekend to improve to 9-1 on the season, marking the best start through 10 games since the 1995 squad also went 9-1.

The Rebel offense wasn't quite as potent as it was on Saturday, but was efficient in scoring five runs on just four hits in the game, thanks in part to a late-inning insurance two-run home run by senior Myranda Bueno.

While the offense stole the show on opening weekend, this weekend was highlighted by the consistency of the pitching staff, who combined to give up just nine runs in 35.0 innings pitched with 32 strikeouts, led by freshman Jenny Bressler, who fanned 17 in 16.1 innings pitched.

THE TURNING POINT: After UTEP cut the score to 3-1 in the top half of the six, the Rebels responded quickly like they have so often early in the 2019 season. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, freshman third baseman Lauryn Barker drew a walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. That brought up Bueno, who sent a drive to left center that landed just over the wall for the two-run home run. The runs gave the Rebels some breathing room as UTEP scored one in the top of the seventh and threatened with the bases loaded before Breana Burke got the final out for the save.

REBEL OF THE GAME: Bueno's home run was just the fourth hit of the game for UNLV, but was huge in taking some pressure off the Rebels in the final frame. It was the senior left fielder's second of the season after hitting just one in her previous three seasons.

STAT OF THE GAME: Bressler, who picked up her fifth win of the season, matched her career-high with eight strikeouts in the game.

UP NEXT: UNLV will head out on the road for the next two weekends, beginning with a tournament at UC Riverside Feb. 22-24. First game is set for Friday against Portland State at 11:30 a.m.

REBEL NOTES: 
* UNLV got revenge for last year's 7-6 loss to UTEP in Las Vegas
* Despite just four hits, the Rebels weren't lacking base runners after drawing six walks in the game 
* UNLV went 8-for-9 on stolen bases for the weekend, making them 25-for-26 on the season after swiping just 31 bases all of last season
* Bressler's hot start to her college career as she is 5-0 with 30 strikeouts and a 3.34 ERA. The trio of Charlie Masterson, Breana Burke and Bressler have been a consistent group through two weekends with a 3.14 ERA and 56 strikeouts 
* UNLV is outscoring its opponents 68 to 24 this season
* UNLV has hit six home runs through 10 games after hitting just 20 in 53 games last season
* As a team UNLV is hitting .336 this season, with five different players hitting over .300, led by junior Lauren Tycksen, who is hitting .515 and leads the team with 17 hits and 16 runs scored