LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV softball team battled it out against UC Santa Barbara in the final game of the Desert Classic, but ultimately fell 7-6 on Sunday at Eller Media Stadium.
 
The Rebels (5-3) were unable to comeback against the Gauchos (3-7) in the bottom of the seventh inning as UC Santa Barbara took the lead in the top of the seventh.

The Gauchos took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning and held the Rebels empty handed at the bottom of the first.
 
However, UNLV got right into the rhythm of things as Jessie Farrell led the bottom of the second inning hitting her first career blast over the center field wall to cut the Gauchos' lead in half. Sofia Morales followed with a single and a Charelle Aki drew a walk. UCSB was able to escape the inning while the Rebels left two on base.

Alanna Thiede shut down the Gauchos in the top of the third inning, retiring them in order.  In the bottom of the third inning, the Rebels took a 5-2 lead that started with Skylar Shaw smacking a triple into center field and Janyssa Martin reached after being hit with a pitch. With no outs, Ariana Martinez stepped up to the plate and drove a 3-run homer into right field to bring them all home. The Rebels were not done as Alyssa Trejo then doubled to right center. Jesse Farrell then hit a deep ball to center which Trejo tagged and put herself into scoring position at third. Charelle Aki singled to bring Trejo home, also marking her first career hit and RBI of the season. The Rebels completed the inning with four runs on four hits.
 
At the top of the fourth, the Gauchos shaved a little bit of the Rebels lead off with a run on two hits, 5-3. Janyssa Martin answered right back with a double to left center to lead off the bottom of the fourth and Trejo then roped a single to bring Martin home to extend the lead to 6-3.

Both teams were scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings. It wasn't until the seventh inning when the Gauchos eventually tied and gained a 7-6 lead. UNLV was then retired in order to close out the game.

OTHER NOTES:

• On the day, the Rebels had 10 hits including two doubles, a thrapple and two home runs against the Gauchos.
• Martinez is currently on an eight-game hitting and on-base streak.
• Martin has also reached base in all eight Rebels' games.
• Schmidt is currently on a five-game reached base streak.

UP NEXT: The Rebels will be back right home at Eller Media Stadium for the Rebel Classic as they will host Santa Clark, Tulsa, and Southern Utah on Friday, February 23 – Sunday, February 25. UNLV will first take on Santa Clara on Friday at 3 p.m.