LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) — UNLV won the war but lost the final battle against Colorado State in an 8-5 loss Sunday at Ram Field in Fort Collins, Colorado.

The Rebels missed out on a series sweep but had to play from behind early. A three-error first inning allowed the Rams to open with a 5-1 lead. 

UNLV (17-17 overall, 3-6 Mountain West) took back 2 in the second. Leadoff walks by Janyssa Martin and Skyler Shaw paid off when Maddie Schmidt singled into center field. 

Colorado State (18-11, 4-4) answered in the bottom of the second. Hailey Smith scored on Kaitlyn Cook's RBI single.

The Martin-Shaw duo then drove in two runs in the fifth to close the deficit to 6-5. Back-to-back bases-loaded, full-count walks to each scored Kelsie Kelso and Denise Armendariz.

But the Rams added insurance runs in their final at-bats as a single, triple and sacrifice fly scored the final two runs of the game. 

UNLV returns to Eller Media Stadium in Las Vegas starting Thursday for a three-game series against Fresno State, who sit second in the conference standings.