SAN DIEGO, Calif. (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV baseball team (14-13, 2-7 MW) was handed a 3-1 setback in the series finale against San Diego State (9-19, 5-4 MW) on Sunday afternoon at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

The Hustlin' Rebels tied the game in the top of the third inning with a Paul Myro IV home run before the Aztecs scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fourth inning on a sacrifice bunt with a runner on third.

HOW IT WENT DOWN: UNLV struck out three straight times to begin the contest before San Diego State recorded a pair of two-out singles in the bottom of the first inning. The second single brought home a run after a fielding error by Cole Koniarsky in right field. Myro IV tied up the game in the third inning, 1-1, thanks to his second home run of the season. A leadoff triple for Drew Rutter of San Diego State in the bottom of the fourth inning gave the next batter, Evan Sipe, a golden opportunity for a sacrifice bunt to bring home the go-ahead run. UNLV's best chance at tying up the game came in the top of the sixth inning. Koniarsky notched his second double of the game and the duo of Chase Ditmar and pinch-hitter Mikey Cruz Jr. walked to load the bases. Chase Gallegos stepped up to the plate only to ground into a fielder's choice to end the frame. 

In the top of the seventh inning, JP Hefft reached first on a fielder's choice and proceeded to advance on a wild pitch with Gunnar Myro at the plate. Myro grounded out to second base which brought Hefft to third with two outs. After Toigo walked to put runners on first and third, Koniarsky grounded out to first base to end the inning. The bottom of the eighth saw San Diego State tack on an insurance run to make it a 3-1 contest. In the top of the ninth inning, Myro IV reached first on a one-out walk, and the Aztecs brought in their closer, Xavier Cardenas III, for the save opportunity. Cardneas III went on to retire JP Hefft and Gunnar Myro on two flyouts to right field to end the game and collect the first sweep over UNLV since 2018.

QUOTABLE: "A very frustrating and disappointing weekend. We pitched well enough to win three games, we just offered no threat to them offensively. Props to SDSU pitchers, they were really good this weekend. We need to get back to work and turn this around."
-Head Coach Stan Stolte

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Koniarsky totaled six hits in the series, with two hits apiece in all three games, including two doubles in the series finale.
- Myro IV went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a single and a walk
- Five Rebel batters reached base via a walk.
- San Diego State swept UNLV for the first time since 2018.
- Sam Simon suffered the loss where he pitched six innings, giving up six hits, two runs with one being earned, three walks and seven strikeouts.

UP NEXT: The Rebels will head to Riverside, Calif., playing a single game against California Baptist on Monday, March 31 at 2 p.m.