SAN JOSE, Calif. (UNLVRebels.com) — Jenny Bressler pitched her fifth complete-game shutout of the season as the Rebels topped the Spartans 5-0 Thursday night.

UNLV (29-9 overall, 7-3 Mountain West) used a four-run sixth inning to power past San Jose State (19-19, 5-8) and improve within one game of first place in the Mountain West Conference standings with 14 games to play.

Bressler (W, 16-6) struck out 10 batters, matching a season high, with two hits and one walk allowed.

"Jenny pitched a great game," UNLV head softball coach Kristie Fox. "She was really hitting her spots, mixing her speeds.

UNLV senior third baseman Lauryn Barker put the Rebels on the board early, driving in freshman Sofia Morales with a double to left center.

Morales was 3-for-3 with two runs scored. 

"That really let us relax a little bit. Then we had the big sixth inning. They brought in their No. 1 (pitcher) in to try to shut it down and keep it close, and we had some really good, quality at-bats against her to get those extra runs in."

The Rebels' Nos. 6, 7 and 8 in the batting order combined to hit 5-for-8 with four RBIs and three runs.

Mia Trejo singled in the top of the sixth, ending an 0-for-10 hitting slump, to spark a series of hits for the Rebels. Denise Armendariz moved Janyssa Martin, pinch running for Trejo, into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, then Ariana Martinez counted an RBI double as her lazy fly dropped just inside the left field line and rolled away from the defense into foul territory.

Morales popped her third hit of the game to put runners on the corners and force SJSU starter Caroline Bowman out of the game. The Rebels continued to knock around reliever Jenessa Ullegue as Samantha Diaz cleared the baserunners with a triple to right field and reached home on Barker's sacrifice fly.

UNLV returns to Spartan Softball Stadium Friday at 3 p.m. for game two of the series against San Jose State.