FORT COLLINS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball team couldn't complete a series win at Colorado State (31-6, 13-2) as the Rebels dropped Sunday's rubber match 4-2 at Ram Field. UNLV cut the lead to two in the seventh inning on a Samantha Diaz two-run home run, but the rally ultimately came up short in the loss.

It was the second straight loss and second consecutive Mountain West series loss for the Rebels, who moved to 27-11 and 8-6 in league play. The two-game skid matches the longest losing streak for UNLV in 2019, with the Rebels only losing back-to-back games two other times this season.

Junior Breana Burke started in the circle and had a solid outing against a potent CSU offense, allowing just two runs through five innings before the Ram's hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth for some breathing room. It was her sixth complete game this year as the right-hander took the loss to move to 7-4. 

THE TURNING POINT: After an offensive onslaught the first two games of the series, game three was more of a pitcher's struggle. The Rams took a 2-0 in the third, but the Rebels stayed within striking distance as that score held through five innings. With one out in the sixth, the Rams put one on with a single and two batters later, the Rams doubled their lead to 4-0 on a two-run shot to center. UNLV didn't let it knock the wind completely out of its sails as freshman Statia Cermak led off the seventh inning with a single and Diaz brought her home with her own two run home to cut the lead in half. A hit by pitch put Myranda Bueno on and with two outs Reina Bondi came to plate as the Rebels' last chance. Bondi took the count to 2-2 but a called strike three ended the comeback attempt.

STAT OF THE GAME: The Rebels were held under three runs for just the ninth time in 38 games.

UP NEXT: UNLV returns home for the next two weekends, hosting San Jose State Thursday through Saturday, April 18-20, at Eller Media Stadium. The following weekend the Rebels will play three games with Cal Baptist in Las Vegas, April 25 & 26.

REBEL NOTES: 
* UNLV is now 40-49 against Colorado State all time
* The 27-11 record is the third-best record through 38 games in program history. The 1991 team owns the best record at 30-8 & the 1995 squad was 29-9
* Myranda Bueno, Justine Federe and Mia Trejo combined to go 12-for-27 (.444) with eight RBI and five runs scored
* Diaz's home run gave the Rebels' 26 total for the year after hitting just 20 in 53 games in 2018
* UNLV needs six wins to match last year's total of 33 with 12 games still left to play, while head coach Kristie Fox needs just six wins to reach 200 total in her head coaching career
* UNLV committed just one error in three games this weekend, giving them just 24 total in 38 games
* Rebels still continue to outscore its opponents 203-94