LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV softball team closed out the UNLV Desert Classic Sunday at Eller Media Stadium, dropping the weekend finale to Utah 6-3 for just its third loss of the season. The Rebels moved to 7-3 overall, marking the second straight year with that record through the first 10 games. 

UNLV went 3-2 on at the classic, with a pair of wins over Weber State and a win over Cal Baptist. Both losses came at the hands of the Pac-12's Utah, with the Rebels unable to avenge Saturday's 14-12 loss in the rematch Sunday.

The Utes jumped on UNLV early with two scores on solo home runs in the first off of freshman Jasmine Martin, who was making first career start in the circle, and added two more in the second to make it 4-0. It stayed that way until the fourth inning, when the quiet UNLV offense finally got something going with the help of the Utah fielders. Senior Lauren Tycksen and sophomore Denise Armendariz both reached on Utah errors and with two outs, breakout freshman Janyssa Martin made them pay with a three-run home run to left field to cut the Utah lead to one.  

Senior Charlie Masterson entered the game in relief of Martin in the second inning and kept the Ute offense at bay until the sixth inning when Utah added a pair of insurance runs on a home run and a pair of singles for the 6-3 lead.

In its final chance to rally, UNLV put runners on first and second with one out after a Janyssa Martin single and a Justine Federe walk, but sophomore Alyssa Trejo and freshman pinch-hitter Alexsi Barashkoff struck out back-to-back to end the game. 

UP NEXT: The Rebels are off next weekend and will be back at home, March 5-7, to host the Boyd Gaming Classic at Eller Media Stadium.