University of Nevada Las Vegas

Baseball Athlete (1987-89)

A First Team All-American first baseman slugger, Kevin Lofthus once led the nation in home runs and still holds multiple school batting records. The San Diego native came to Las Vegas after an All-American career at College of Southern Idaho that saw him help the Golden Eagles win the NJCAA National Championship. Signing to play for Hall of Fame head coach Fred Dallimore, Lofthus big bat turned heads in 1987 when he hit a league-leading 18 home runs en route to earning First Team All-Conference and First Team All-District for the Hustlin’ Rebels. After an injury sidelined him the following season, he saved the best for last as his senior campaign made him a national name in college baseball. The three-time Big West Player of the Week hit three home runs in a game for the second time in the Scarlet & Gray, this time vs. perennial power LSU. A National Player of the Week via Collegiate Baseball, he belted a nations-best 26 homers while maintaining a .367 battle average and setting the program record with a 34-game hitting streak that still stands today. Named First Team All-America by The Sporting News, his 44 career long balls in just two seasons rank him third in UNLV history. Selected in the 47th round of the draft by the Oakland A’s, Lofthus spent some time in the minor leagues but never left the game behind, serving as a coach on every level of amateur baseball and continuing to teach hitting at his home in Georgia. Now, he becomes just the sixth baseball player inducted into the UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame.

LOFTHUS CAREER BASEBALL STATS

YEAR    G     AB     R     H     RBI     2B     3B     HR     SB     AVG
1989      60    237    64    87    63       8       1        26      3       .367
1988      INJURY REDSHIRT SEASON  
1987      55    196    49    72    56       9       0        18      4       .367
TOTAL  115   433   113   159  119     17     1        44      7       .367