SAN DIEGO, CA (UNLVRebels.com) - It took the longest game in the country this season to get it done, but the UNLV softball team completed the first three-game sweep over San Diego State (15-19, 3-6) in program history with a 4-3 win in a 17-inning contest Sunday in San Diego. The marathon series finale lasted just over four hours and was the third-longest game in terms of innings played in 35 years of Rebel softball.

The Rebels, who on Saturday captured their first series win in San Diego since 2005 and first over the Aztecs since 2016, are now 25-7 and 6-2 in Mountain West play. It's the third-best start through 32 games behind the 1991 and 1995 squads, who each went 26-6.

UNLV and starter Jenny Bressler looked like they had the victory secured as they led 3-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh, but the Aztecs had some home-field magic and tied it up at three. That brought junior Breana Burke in to relieve Bressler with one out and SDSU still threatening. After Burke walked her first batter she got the next two outs to send the game to extras, where she proceeded to pitch 10 more scoreless frames for her career-high sixth win of the year.

Those innings weren't without some tense moments as the Aztecs saw runners reach third base in the 11th, 12th and 13th frames, but every single time Burke came up with outs to get out of the jams. The defense was key in those extra frames as well, turning a season-high three double plays to end the 10th, 15th and 16th innings, with Burke assisting on one in the 15th.

While Friday and Saturday's wins featured the usual suspects on offense, Sunday's victory saw some big at-bats from its role players. Freshmen Statia Cermak and Denise Armendariz, who have rotated in the designated player spot all season, delivered in pinch-hit situations in the game as each took turns hitting solo home runs to help build the 3-1 lead, while sophomore CC Caccamise, a backup catcher, came up with the game-winning RBI on a fielder's choice in the top of the 17th, also as a pinch hitter.

THE TURNING POINT: After the Aztecs tied it in the bottom of the seventh, the Rebels easily could have got down on themselves and let the sweep slip away, but instead they battled even harder. With Burke and the defense doing their thing in the field, UNLV continued to put runners on base throughout the extra frames, but couldn't find the game-winner - until the 17th. Speedy centerfielder Lauren Tycksen forced an error to reached base to lead off the frame, then stole second to get in scoring position with no outs. Justine Federe was up next and moved her over with a sacrifice bunt before Mia Trejo was intentionally walked for the second time in the game to put runners on first and third with one out. Fox then sent Caccamise up to pinch hit for Kiley Harrison and she put just enough on it to make the shortstop go to second for the force out, allowing Tycksen to score the game-winning run on the fielder's choice RBI by Caccamise. In the bottom half of the inning, the Aztecs put a runner on first with two outs after a UNLV fielding error, but Burke got a fly out to end it.

STAT OF THE GAME: Three of the Rebels' four runs batted in came from pinch-hitters, which has been a successful strategy for UNLV in 2019. For the game they were, 2-4 with two home runs, three RBI and two runs scored and for the season they are now 17-for-49 (.347). Cermak as been almost unstoppable when pinch hitting as she is now 7-for-10 (.700) in those situations.

REBEL OF THE GAME: Burke capped a stellar weekend in the circle Sunday with an outing in relief that was nothing short of amazing. After her two-run (zero earned) complete-game performance in game two, Burke was even better in the finale, giving up just six hits in the 10.2 innings and forcing SDSU to leave eight runners stranded. Burke is now 6-2 on year and dropped her team-best ERA to 1.53. 

QUOTABLES: 
Head Coach Kristie Fox on the weekend sweep and Sunday's finale:
"Sweeping on the road is not an easy thing to do, especially against a historically strong Mountain West team. We really head to earn this win today and everyone stepped up and played a part. Bre [Burke] was lights out to close this game and our defense made some amazing plays to keep them from walking us off. I'm very proud of the way this team handled themselves."

Junior pitcher Breana Burke on her 10.2 scoreless innings in relief:
"I just competed every pitch today. I really focused on not making any moment bigger than it was and trusted my defense. They had my back every single inning. Jenny [Bressler] threw a great game, so I wanted to have her back as well. I just wanted to continue to keep getting us opportunities at the plate."

UP NEXT: After spending four of the last five weekends on the road, the Rebels will finally return home next weekend, hosting Fresno State, April 5-7, at Eller Media Stadium. UNLV swept the Bulldogs in Fresno last year.

REBEL NOTES: 
* The 25-7 record is the best start since the 1995 squad went 26-6
* The 17-inning contest was the longest game for UNLV since March 28, 2014 when UNLV and San Jose State played 12 innings, which ended in a 6-4 win for the Rebels 
* It was the third-longest (innings-wise) game in program history behind an 18-inning 2-1 loss to #14 Long Beach State on April 13, 1991 and a 20-inning 1-0 loss at Fresno State on April 24, 1987 
* This is just the ninth series win in the 29 seasons UNLV has faced SDSU all-time, first since 2016 and first in San Diego since 2005. First traditional three-game sweep of SDSU in program history
* Fourth time they've gone unbeaten in the regular season against SDSU [1986 (4-0), 1994 (2-0) and 2005 (4-0)]
* UNLV is now 21-1 when it scores first in the game
* UNLV needs just eight wins to match last year's total of 33 with 18 games still left to play, while head coach Kristie Fox needs just eight wins to reach 200 total in her head coaching career
* At times, the Rebels weren't their usual solid selves in the field, committing six errors on the weekend - four in Saturday's win and two in Sunday's victory - but made the plays when they needed to, including the three double plays in extras Sunday. They've committed 20 errors in 32 games this year
* Sophomore first baseman Mia Trejo's hitting streak now stands at eight games - encompassing the first eight games of conference play. During that time, she's gone 12-for-24 (.500) with 15 RBI, seven runs scored, one double, three runs home and eight walks. The sophomore has also reached base safely in 11 straight games. Trejo was also intentionally walked twice during the game
* Bueno extended her hitting streak to six games with a 2-for-7 day. During that stretch she's now 10-for-24 (.416) at the plate
* Harrison, while she isn't an everyday starter, has taken advantage of her opportunities at the plate, particularly during MW games. She also has a seven-game hitting streak (over games she's appeared in) and is 10-for-18 (.556) with one double, one triple, three RBI and two runs scored against Mountain West competition
* UNLV went 3-for-3 on stolen base attempts, including Tycksen's swipe in the 17th to set up the game-winning run. They are now 43 of 47 on the year after having just 31 all of last year
* Cermak's home run was her first traditional one of her collegiate career (she had an inside-the-park HR earlier in the season), while Armendariz's was her second of the year. The Rebels now have 21 in 32 games this year, surpassing the 20 they had in 53 total games last season
* The Rebels have recorded double digit hits in 17 of 32 games
* The Rebels pitching staff has an ERA of 1.94 (leads the MW) and has allowed three runs or fewer in 24 of 32 games 
* Rebels continue to outscore its opponents 180-69