Feb. 25, 1998
WHEN/WHERE: The UNLV baseball team, 12-4 and winners of eight out of its last 10, will host Fresno State this weekend in a three-game series to open WAC play.
THIS WEEK: Friday, Feb. 27 - *Fresno State at UNLV, 3:05 p.m., Earl E. Wilson Stadium (3,000)+
Saturday, Feb. 28 - *Fresno State at UNLV, 1:05 p.m., Earl E. Wilson Stadium+
Sunday, March 1 - Fresno State at UNLV, 1:05 p.m., Earl E. Wilson Stadium+
NEXT WEEK: 18th Annual UNLV/Coors Desert Classic (Thursday, March 5-8)Thursday, March 5 - Ohio State vs. Oral Roberts, 10 a.m. UNLV vs. Oral Roberts, 1:30 p.m. UNLV vs. Cal State Northridge, 5 p.m. Lewis-Clark State vs. Washington State, 1 p.m. at Cashman FieldFriday, March 6 - Ohio State vs. Washington State, 10 a.m. Lewis-Clark State vs. UNLV, 1:30 p.m. Lewis-Clark State vs. Ohio State, 5 p.m. Oral Roberts vs. Cal State Northridge, 1 p.m. at Cashman FieldSaturday, March 7 - Oral Roberts vs. Washington State, 10 a.m. Cal State Northridge vs. Washington State, 1:30 p.m. Cal State Northridge vs. Lewis-Clark State, 5 p.m. Ohio State vs. UNLV, 5 p.m. at Cashman FieldSunday, March 8 - CHAMPIONSHIP DAY (Best Overall Records through four games) 6th best record vs. 5th best record, 10 a.m., at Wilson Stadium 4th best record vs. 3rd best record, 1:30 p.m. at Wilson Stadium 2nd best record vs. 1st best record - championship game, 5 p.m. at Wilson Stadium (NOTE: Originally scheduled at Cashman Field, changed to Wilson Stadium due to major league baseball games played at Cashman Field on March 7-8).
*KLAV AM-1230 Radio +WAC game
RADIO: UNLV baseball will broadcast 25 games during the 1998 season on KLAV AM-1230. Scott Robbs will call the action all season long. The following is the broadcast schedule: Feb. 10 vs. Pepperdine; Feb. 13-14 vs. UNR and Southern Illinois; Feb. 20-21 at Cal State Fullerton; Feb. 27-28 vs. Fresno State; March 13-14 at Grand Canyon; March 17 vs. Arizona; March 20-21 vs. Rice; March 25 vs. Portland State; April 3-4 vs. New Mexico; April 10 -11 vs. Air Force; April 17-18 at San Jose State; May 1-2 vs. TCU; May 5 vs. Arizona State.
THE TEAMS: UNLV is 12-4 on the season. UNLV split two games last weekend against No. 13 Cal State Fullerton. UNLV won 7-5 and lost 9-3 at Titan Field. The third game was rained out. Fresno State is 4-9 on the season. The Bulldogs defeated Sacramento State 10-3 on Tuesday at Beiden Field. Fresno State has won four out of its last five games.
THE SERIES: Fresno State leads the series against UNLV 34-20. The two teams split two games in the last meeting in 1996 at Wilson Stadium. Fresno State won 9-6 and UNLV won 8-6.
UNLV HEAD COACH ROD SOESBE: He is in his 14th season at UNLV and his second as head coach. His career record is 36-35 (.507). Rod was named as the fourth head coach in UNLV baseball history on Sept. 10, 1996. He spent 12 seasons as the top assistant coach to Fred Dallimore. Soesbe came to UNLV in 1985 and served as the team's hitting instructor, working with the infielders and third base coach. He spent six years at Yavapai College (Prescott, Ariz.) from 1978-83 and was head coach at Lee College in Baytown, Texas, in 1984. He was twice named the Arizona Junior College "Coach of the Year" in 1978 and 1979. He was also named regional "Coach of the Year" for those two seasons.
COACHES: Bob Bennett is in his 30th season at Fresno State and his record is 1,128-636.
EARL E. WILSON BASEBALL STADIUM: UNLV baseball will begin its fifth season playing in the 3,000-seat Earl E. Wilson Baseball Stadium at Roger Barnson Field (26th season playing on the existing field). A gift of $1.2 million from the estate of the late Earl and Hazel Wilson was used for the construction of the Stadium. The stadium features 2,500 theater-type seats and 500 bleacher-back seats; paved parking for 400 cars; a 60-foot enclosed press box; restrooms for fans, concession areas; backstop; public address system; batter's eye in centerfield; and stadium entrance complete with handicap access (tunnel and ramp). Wilson Stadium was dedicated on Saturday, Jan. 29, 1994 prior to the UNLV Alumni Game. Jay Brown and Mel Wolzinger, co-trustees of the Earl and Hazel Wilson estate, were on hand to bring in a new era to Rebel baseball. A crowd of 2,500, the largest home crowd in UNLV baseball history, saw the UNLV Alumni defeat the varsity 15-14.
REBEL NOTES: UNLV entered the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll at No. 22...UNLV was ranked during the 1996 season (except for the first two weeks of the season). The 1996 Rebels were 43-17 and captured the 1996 Big West Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Regionals...Three WAC schools are ranked in the ESPN poll (Rice, Hawai'i, UNLV)...The 12-4 start is the best since the 1996 season...UNLV was 12-4 after 16 games in 1996...UNLV is batting .363 as a team (211-for-581) with 75 extra bse hits (46 doubles, 8 triples and 21 home runs) and fielding .954 with 29 errors in 16 games...The team ERA is 4.77...The WAC schedule features 30 league games with six teams qualifying for the WAC Tournament on May 13-16, at San Diego, Calif.
UNLV BASEBALL PLAYER-BY-PLAYER NOTES:
CHRIS ADOLPH: The junior outfielder from Fresno, Calif., has appeared in 15 games and is batting .375 (24-for-64) with 6 doubles and 12 RBI. He was 4-for-7 in two games against Southern Utah (Feb. 3-4). He was 3-for-5 with 3 RBI against Utah on Feb. 8. He was 3-for-5 against UNR on Feb. 16. Batted .444 (8-for-18) over a four-game stretch (Feb. 14-16 vs. Southern Illinois and UNR). He had a career-high 14-game hitting streak (Jan. 30 - Feb. 20). He has compiled 8 multiple hit games. He has
BRAD BEASLEY: The freshman catcher from Las Cruces, N.M. has appeared in two games and is batting .800 (8-for-10) with 7 runs scored. He was 4-for-6 with 4 runs scored in his first collegiate start against Utah on Feb. 8. He was 4-for-4 with 3 runs scored against Southern Illinois on Feb. 15.
SEAN CAMPBELL: The junior catcher from Fresno, Calif., has appeared in 15 games and is batting .356 (21-for-59) with 4 home runs and 14 RBI. He batted .500 (4-for-8) in two games against UC Santa Barbara (Jan. 30, Feb. 1). Batted .583 (7-for-12) in the Utah series (Feb. 6-8). He was 3-for-3 against the Utes on Feb. 6. He was 3-for-4 with 3 runs scored against UNR on Feb. 15. He has compiled 7 multiple hit games. Hit safely in 12 of 15 games.
TONY DeMARCO: The sophomore first baseman from Las Vegas has appeared in 15 games and is the team's leading hitter at .431 (25-for-58) with 14 RBI. He was 3-for-3 with 4 RBI against UC Santa Barbara on Feb. 1. He was 5-for-6 against Pepperdine on Feb. 10. His two-run triple in the bottom of the 12th won the game for UNLV (8-7 over the Waves). He was 3-for-5 against UNR on Feb. 13. He batted .500 (4-for-8) in the Cal State Fullerton series (Feb. 20-21). He has compiled 7 multiple hit games. He has hit safely in 13 of 15 games.
KEVIN EBERWEIN: The junior third baseman from Las Vegas was a preseason third team All-American by Baseball America. He has appeared in 16 games and is the team's second-leading hitter at .406 (28-for-69) with 9 doubles (team lead) and 19 RBI. He was 3-for-5 with 2 doubles in the season opener against UC Santa Barbara on Jan. 30. He batted .625 (5-for-8) in two games against Southern Utah (Feb. 3-4). He was 3-for-5 against UNR on Feb. 13. He was 4-for-4 with 2 doubles and 4 RBI against Southern Illinois on Feb. 14. He has compiled 9 multiple hit games. He has hit safely in 14 of 16 games.
BRYAN GIDGE: The junior right-hander from Yakima, Wash., has appeared in 3 games and has a 2-0 record with a 0.57 ERA in 15.2 innings. He has struck out 12. He defeated UC Santa Barbara in the season opener on Jan. 30. He pitched 6.2 innings, allowed 4 hits, no earned runs and struck out 4. He recorded his second victory against Southern Utah on Feb. 4. He pitched 6 innings and allowed 1 run and struck out 6.
CHRIS GILLETTE: The junior second baseman from Missoula, Montana, has appeared in 14 games and is batting .373 (19-for-51) with 7 doubles. He was 3-for-5 with a double and home run in the season opener against UC Santa Barbara on Jan. 30. He was 3-for-4 with 3 runs scored against UNR on Feb. 13; 3-for-6 with 2 doubles against Southern Illinois on Feb. 14. He was 2-for-4 against No. 13 Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 20. Batting .444 (12-for-27) over his last 7 games. He has compiled 7 multiple hit games.
RYAN HAMILL: The freshman catcher/designated hitter from Woodland Hills, Calif., has appeared in 10 games and is batting .276 with 4 home runs and 8 RBI. He was 2-for-4 with his first collegiate home run and 3 RBI against Utah on Feb. 6. He hit a pinch-hit home run to tie the game against Pepperdine on Feb. 11. He was 2-for-5 with a solo home run against Southern Illinois on Feb. 15. He was 1-for-4 with a three-run home run against UNR on Feb. 16.
HENRY JONES: The junior outfielder from Los Angeles, Calif., has appeared in 8 games and is batting .300 (9-for-30). He was 2-for-4 against Utah on Feb. 7 and 3-for-4 against the Utes on Feb. 8. He was 2-for-6 against Pepperdine on Feb. 10. He was 1-for-3 with 1 RBI against No. 13 Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 20.
RYAN LUDWICK: The sophomore outfielder from Las Vegas was a second team preseason All-American by Baseball America. He has appeared in 16 games and is batting .356 (21-for-59) with 8 doubles (second on team) and leads the team with 5 home runs and 21 RBI. He was 1-for-4 and hit his first collegiate grand slam against Southern Utah on Feb. 4. He compiled four straight multiple hit games against Utah and Pepperdine (Feb. 7-10) and batted .667 (10-for-15). He was named the WAC's Player of the Week (Feb. 9). He was 3-for-4 with 3 doubles against Utah on Feb. 8. He was 2-for-5 with a home run against UNR on Feb. 13. He was 2-for-4 with 1 RBI against No. 13 Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 20. He has compiled 7 multiple hit games. He has hit safely in 12 of 16 games.
ANDY McCULLOCH: The sophomore right-hander from Las Vegas has appeared in 6 games and has a 2-0 record with a 1.80 ERA. He has pitched in 10 innings and has struck out 9. He is second on the staff with 2 saves. Pitched 2.1 innings and recorded the save in the season opener against UC Santa Barbara on Jan. 30. Recorded his second save with 1 scoreless inning against Utah on Feb. 6.He recorded his first victory over UNR on Feb. 13. Pitched 1.2 innings and allowed 7 runs (no earned). Recorded his second victory against No. 13 Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 20. He pitched 1.2 innings and allowed 1 run and struck out 2.
JESSE PRYOR: The sophomore outfielder from Tucson, Ariz., has appeared in 12 games and is batting .378 (17-for-45) with 15 RBI. He was 2-for-4 against UC Santa Barbara on Feb. 1. He was 2-for-5 with 3 runs scored 1 home run and 3 RBI against Utah on Feb. 8. He was 3-for-5 with 4 RBI against Southern Illinois on Feb. 15. He batted .400 (2-for-5) in the Cal State Fullerton series (Feb. 20-21). He has hit safely in 12 of 16 games and 10 straight. He has compiled 6 multiple hit games.
ELIOTT SARABIA: The junior shortstop from Rialto, Calif., has appeared in 16 games and is batting .259 (14-for-54) with 8 RBI. A solid defensive shortstop, he is fielding .961. He was 2-for-5 with 1 RBI against Utah on Feb. 8. He was 2-for-5 with 2 RBI against Southern Illinois on Feb. 14. He was 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored against UNR on Feb. 16. He batted .286 (2-for-7) in the Cal State Fullerton series (Feb. 20-21).
JIMMY SMITH: The junior right-hander from Olympia, Wash., has appeared in 6 games and leads the staff with 3 saves. He has a 2.79 ERA in 9.2 innings pitched. He recorded both saves over UNR on Feb. 13 and Feb. 15, working a total of 2.2 scoreless innings against the Wolf Pack. He registered his third save against No. 13 Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 20. He pitched one scoreless inning and struck out 1.
NATE SMITH: The junior outfielder from Las Vegas has appeared in 11 games and is batting .400 (14-for-35 with 9 RBI. He was 2-for-3 against UC Santa Barbara in the season opener on Jan. 30. He was 2-for-5 with 2 RBI against Southern Illinois on Feb. 14 and 3-for-5 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI against Southern Illinois on Feb. 15. He had a pinch-hit single against No. 13 Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 21. Batting .800 (4-for-5) as a pinch-hitter in two seasons at UNLV. He has compiled 4 multiple hit games.
JERIMIAH TIPTON: The senior right-hander from Las Vegas has appeared in 4 games and has a 1-0 record with a 4.02 ERA in 15.2 innings pitched. He pitched 5 innings in relief against Pepperdine on Feb. 11. He allowed five hits and two earned runs.
He recorded his first victory of the season against UNR on Feb. 15. He pitched 5.1 innings and allowed 4 earned runs. He allowed only one hit in the first five innings.
MIKE ZIPSER: The junior right-hander from Las Vegas has appeared in 5 games and is 3-1 with a 4.08 ERA. He has pitched in 35.1 innings and has walked only 5 batters and has struck out a team-leading 29. He defeated UC Santa Barbara in his first start on Feb. 1. He pitched 5 innings and allowed 2 runs. He defeated Utah on Feb. 6 for his second victory. He pitched 8 innings, allowed 3 runs and struck out a career-high 9 batters. He recorded his third victory against UNR on Feb. 16. He notched the team's first complete game of the season. He allowed only 4 hits, 1 run and tied his career-high with 9 strikeouts. He suffered his first defeat of the season against No. 13 Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 21. He pitched 5.2 innings and allowed 6 earned runs.
in UNLV's 14-4 victory. He had his best outing vs. No. 4 Rice on March 14. Pitched 7.1 innings, alllowed 4 hits, 0 runs and struck out a career-high 10 batters. UNLV won 1-0 in 11 innings. He pitched 6 innings with another no decision against Utah on March 21. Allowed 10 hits and 5 runs (1 earned). He recorded his third victory against New Mexico on April 12. He pitched 2.1 innings in relief and allowed 1 hit in UNLV's 10-9 victory over the Lobos. He recorded a save in UNLV's 12-9 victory over the Lobos on April13 (suspended and completed on May 9 in Las Vegas). He pitched 2 scoreless innings of relief against UNR on April 15. He recorded his first save with 1.2 scoreless innings against TCU on May 4. He pitched 3.2 innings of relief against New Mexico on May 11. He allowed 1 run and struck out 5 and retired 11 of 12 batters he faced.
MIKE ZIPSER: The sophomore right-hander from Cimarron-Memorial High School in Las Vegas appeared in 16 games (16 starts-team leader) and had a 5-6 record with a 7.33 ERA. He pitched in 89.2 innings (led staff), allowed 139 hits and struck out 54 (second on staff). In his first outing against No. 2 UCLA (Feb. 2), he pitched 5.2 innings, allowed 6 hits and 4 runs in a 10-3 loss. He recorded his first collegiate victory against No. 24 Washington on Feb. 9. He pitched 6 innings, allowed 7 hits, 2 runs and struck out 5 in UNLV's 9-8 victory. Recorded his second victory against Kansas on Feb. 16. Pitched 7 innings, allowed 7 hits, 2 runs and 4 strikeouts. He recorded his first complete gaame with a 7-4 victory over Portland State on Feb. 23. He allowed 7 hits, 4 runs (one earned), issued no walks and struck out a career-high 8 batters. He had a no decision against No. 11 Clemson on Feb. 28. He pitched 7 strong innings, allowed 7 hits, 3 runs (2 earned) and struck out 4. UNLV defeated the Tigers 4-3. He pitched 5 innings in a no decision against No. 20 Arizona State on March 11. Allowed 7 hits and 3 runs. He recorded his fourth victory against No. 4 Rice on March 16. Pitched 7.2 innings, allowed 14 hits, 6 runs (4 earned) and walked only 1 and struck out 5. He had a no decision against Hawai'i on April 6. He pitched 6 strong innings, allowed 4 hits and 3 runs. He left in the seventh inning when he loaded the bases. He defeated TCU 19-5 on April 18 for his fifth victory. He pitched 7 innings, allowed 8 hits, 4 runs, 1 walk and 6 strikeouts. He pitched 6 innings in a no decision against New Mexico on May 9. He allowed 7 runs and struck out 5. He has been nominated for GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-American consideration.
NATE YESKIE 1995 All-Big West First Team, 1995 All-District 8 First Team
The sophomore right-hander from Carson City, Nev., was 11-5 with a 4.36 ERA in 144.1 innings (team lead and Big West). He struck out a team-leading 147 batters (also led Big West) while allowing just 25 walks. He led the staff with nine complete games (lead Big West). He accounted for 12 of UNLV's 32 victories (11 wins and one save). He pitched six innings and allowed three earned runs (no decision) against Loyola Marymount on Jan. 27. He defeated New Mexico 7-2 on Feb. 3. He pitched eight innings, allowed eight hits, an unearned run and did not walk a batter. He defeated then-No. 22 Kansas 13-7 on Feb. 10. He pitched 8.1 innings, allowed eight hits and four earned runs, struck out 11 and did not issue a walk. He defeated BYU 6-2 on Feb. 17 with his first complete game of the season. He allowed 12 hits, two earned runs and struck out eight. He had a string of 21 innings without a walk snapped in the third inning against BYU on Feb. 17. He pitched his second complete game in a 9-3 victory over Washington in the Coors Desert Classic on Feb. 23. He allowed eight hits, one earned run, one walk and struck out a career-high 14, including six straight batters between the third and fifth innings. He recorded his first collegiate save against the Huskies in the championship game of the Desert Classic (Feb. 26) with one scoreless inning. He defeated San Diego State 3-1 on March 4. He pitched his third straight complete game and allowed six hits and struck out six. He pitched 7.1 innings of shutout ball. He defeated Michigan State 10-5 on March 9. He pitched 8.2 innings, allowed 11 hits, four earned runs, two walks and 12 strikeouts. He defeated Missouri 4-3 on March 13 in the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic. He pitched 10 innings, allowed three earned runs and struck out 10. He lost his first game of the season against then-No. 16 Fresno State 11-0 on March 18 in the championship game of the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic. He pitched six innings and allowed eight earned runs. Over a seven start stretch (Feb. 3 - March 13): 7-0, 62 IP, 61 hits, 5 walks, 69 K's, 15 earned runs, 2.18 ERA. He defeated Pacific 3-1 on March 24 in a game that was played in 1:45. He pitched his fifth complete game and allowed six hits, struck out eight and didn't walk a batter for the fourth start this season. He lost his second game of the season against then-No. 24 UNR on March 31. He pitched his sixth "CG" and allowed eight hits and five earned runs. He defeated New Mexico State 13-12 on April 7. He pitched his seventh "CG" and allowed 10 earned runs, 19 hits, struck out 12 and didn't walk a batter for the fifth start this season. He pitched six innings against No. 1 ranked Cal State Fullerton on April 13. He had a no decision and allowed 12 hits and two earned runs. He defeated San Jose State 9-8 on April 21. He pitched his eighth "CG" and allowed 11 hits, four earned runs and tied his career-high with 14 strikouts. He defeated UC Santa Barbara 14-2 on April 28. He pitched eight innings and allowed two runs, one walk and struck out 10. He lost to Long Beach State 6-3 on May 5. He pitched eight innings and allowed nine hits, five earned runs, walked two and struck out nine. He is the first Rebel to win 10 or more games since left-hander Donovan Osborne (former Carson High School grad) won 11 games in 1990. He has struck out 10 or more batters in a game seven times this season. He walked one or less in 10 of his 18 starts. He has appeared in 36 career games and is 19-10 in 253 innings. He broke the school record with 147 strikeouts, passing 144 set by Ralph Garcia in 1969. Yeskie was invited to spring camp for USA Baseball which will begin on June 7 at the team's National Training Site, USA Baseball Stadium, in Millington, Tenn. He was a first-team All-Big West selection.
