Feb. 8, 2000

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV baseball team will close out its 10-game homestand with a three-game series against No. 3 UCLA and a two-game series against Lewis-Clark State at Earl E. Wilson Stadium at Roger Barnson Field (3,000). The following is UNLV's schedule over the next two weeks.

RADIO: The radio home for UNLV baseball in 2000 will be KSHP AM-1400. Scott Robbs returns for his third season and will call the action all season long. Robbs will be joined in the booth by former Rebel pitcher Nate Yeskie. The pregame show begins five minutes prior to the first pitch. A total of 25 games will be broadcast during the season which will consist of Saturday and Sunday games.

WEBSITE BROADCAST INFORMATION: UNLV baseball can also be heard on the internet. To access the broadcast, click on UNLV's official website at www.unlvrebels.com

THE TEAMS: UNLV is 2-3 on the season. UNLV opened the 2000 season with a three-game series against Saint Mary's (Jan. 29-31) at Wilson Stadium. UNLV lost the first two games, 8-5 and 13-6, and won the third game of the series, 3-1. UNLV then split a two-game series against Southern Utah (Feb. 4-5) at Wilson Stadium. UNLV won 19-5 and lost 11-7. No. 3 (by Baseball America) UCLA is 3-0 on the season. The Bruins opened the 2000 season with a three-game series at Hawai'i last week (Feb. 3-5). UCLA swept the Rainbows by the scores of 15-3, 10-3, 9-3. The Bruins will host UC Santa Barbara on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 3 p.m. UCLA was 31-31 overall last season and 13-11 (T-3rd) in the Pacific-10. Lewis-Clark State is 1-0 on the season. The Warriors defeated Washington State, 10-1, in their season opener on Jan. 29. Lewis-Clark State will travel to St. George, Utah on Friday-Saturday, Feb. 11-12, and will play Mesa State twice and Southern Utah. The Warriors were 57-14 overall last season and were once again the NAIA National Champions. It marked the 10th NAIA National Championship since 1984. No. 2 Cal State Fullerton is 0-3 on the season. The Titans were swept at Stanford (Feb. 4-6) by the scores of 5-4, 3-1, 7-3. Cal State Fullerton will host Baylor on Feb. 11-13 and USC on Feb. 15 before hosting UNLV.

THE SERIES: UCLA leads the series against UNLV 18-11. The Bruins swept a three-game series against UNLV in 1997 at Wilson Stadium (7-4, 12-5, 10-3). UNLV leads the series against Lewis-Clark State 16-7. The two teams split a two-game series last season at Wilson Stadium. UNLV won 4-0 behind a shutout by right-hander Bryan Gidge, and LCS won 9-5. Cal State Fullerton leads the series against UNLV 46-15. The Titans swept a three-game series at Wilson Stadium last season (21-14, 16-6, 13-2). USC leads the series against UNLV 8-3. The two teams last met at Barnson Field during the 1986 season. UNLV won 8-5 and USC won 9-4 and 16-15 in 8 innings.

UNLV HEAD COACH ROD SOESBE: He is in his 16th season at UNLV and his fourth as head coach. His career record is 84-92 (.477). 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. He came to UNLV in 1985 and served as the team's hitting instructor, working with the infielders and third base coach. In the summer of 1999, he had the distinction of serving as an assistant coach of the USA Baseball National Team under Texas A&M head coach Mark Johnson. Soesbe 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: Gary Adams is in his 26th season at UCLA and his record is 831-674-7 (.552) and career record over 31 seasons is 1,019-743-12 (.578). Ed Cheff is in his 24th season at Lewis-Clark State and his record is 1,154-316-2 (.785) which includes 10 NAIA National Championships since 1984. George Horton is in his fourth season at Cal State Fullerton and his record is 136-58-1 (.700). Mike Gillespie is in his 14th season at USC and his record is 519-293-2 (.639).

THIS WEEK:
Friday, Feb. 11 - No. 3 UCLA at UNLV, 3:05 p.m., Earl E. Wilson Stadium
Saturday, Feb. 12 - UCLA at UNLV, 1:05 p.m., Earl E. Wilson Stadium*
Sunday, Feb. 13 - UCLA at UNLV, 1:05 p.m., Earl E. Wilson Stadium*

NEXT WEEK:
Tuesday, Feb. 15 - Lewis-Clark State at UNLV, 3:05 p.m., Earl E. Wilson Stadium
Wednesday, Feb. 16 - Lewis-Clark State at UNLV, 3:05 p.m., Earl E. Wilson Stadium
Friday, Feb. 18 - UNLV at No. 5 Cal State Fullerton, 7 p.m., Titan Field (1,750)
Saturday, Feb. 19 - UNLV at Cal State Fullerton, 1 p.m., Titan Field* (tape delay at 3 p.m.)
Sunday, Feb. 20 - UNLV at Cal State Fullerton, 1 p.m., Titan Field*
Monday, Feb. 21 - UNLV at No. 6 USC, 1 p.m., Dedeaux Field (1,800)

*KSHP AM-1400 Radio

EARL E. WILSON BASEBALL STADIUM: UNLV baseball is in its seventh season playing in the 3,000-seat Earl E. Wilson Baseball Stadium at Roger Barnson Field (28th 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. The park dimensions are 335-375-400-375-335.

REBEL NOTES: The 2000 schedule features 56 games with 32 home games and 24 road games. The Mountain West Conference will feature a six-team division format. The six schools which participate in baseball are Air Force, BYU, New Mexico, San Diego State, UNLV and Utah. The 30-game MWC schedule will be played with each team playing six games (home and home) against each conference opponent. The inaugural MWC Tournament will be held on Wednesday-Saturday, May 17-20, at Wilson Stadium. During the first season, the winner of the tournament WILL NOT receive an automatic NCAA Tournament bid. The 2000 schedule features five ranked teams in Collegiate Baseball's Preseason Top 40: No. 2 Cal State Fullerton (UNLV travels to Fullerton on Feb. 18-20), No. 4 UCLA, No. 11 Clemson (UNLV travels to Clemson on March 3-5), No. 15 USC (UNLV travels to USC on Feb. 21), No. 33 UNR. Following the team's four-game road trip in Southern California, UNLV will return home and host the 20th Annual Coors Desert Classic on Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 24-27. The participating teams are: Cal State Northridge, Michigan State, UNR, Oregon State, Santa Clara and West Virginia.

UNLV PLAYER-BY-PLAYER NOTES

LUKE ANDERSON: The junior right-hander has appeared in 2 games (started 2) and has a 1-1 record with a 4.76 ERA. Has pitched in 11 innings, allowed 9 hits and has struck out 14. He made his first collegiate start against Saint Mary's on Jan. 31. He had a strong outing and defeated the Gaels 3-1. He pitched 7.2 innings, allowed 2 hits, 1 run (0 earned), 1 walk and a career-high 11 strikeouts. He struck out six of the first seven batters and retired 13 straight batters from the third through the seventh innings. He was named the Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Week (Feb. 1). He made his second start against Southern Utah on Feb. 5. He pitched 3.2 innings, allowed 7 hits, 7 runs (6 earned) and lost 11-7.

BRAD BEASLEY: The junior catcher/designated hitter has appeared in 3 games and is batting .429 (3-for-7) with 1 home run and 3 RBI. He was 2-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI against Southern Utah on Feb. 4. He hit a pinch-hit solo home run to right field against Southern Utah on Feb. 5.

CLAY BELDING: The junior third baseman/outfielder has appeared in 4 games and is batting .182 (2-for-11). He was 1-for-3 with 1 RBI against Saint Mary's on Jan. 30. He was 1-for-4 in his first start at third base against Southern Utah on Feb. 5.

HAROLD BETTS: The senior catcher has appeared in 5 games and is batting .286 (6-for-21) with 2 doubles. He batted .455 (5-for-11) in the Southern Utah series (Feb. 4-5). He was 3-for-6 with 1 RBI on Feb. 4 and 2-for-5 on Feb. 5.

JARED BONNELL: The freshman right-hander has appeared in 2 games and is 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA. Has pitched in 2.1 innings and has allowed 3 hits and 4 runs (1 earned). He suffered the loss against Saint Mary's in his first collegiate appearance on Jan. 29. Pitched 1.1 innings and allowed 4 runs (1 earned). He pitched a scoreless ninth inning against Southern Utah on Feb. 5.

JOHN CRUZ: The freshman outfielder has appeared in 5 games and is batting .294 (5-for-17) with 5 runs scored, 4 RBI and is 2-for-3 in stolen bases. He was 2-for-5 in his first collegiate game against Saint Mary's on Jan. 29. He batted .429 (3-for-7) in the Southern Utah series (Feb. 4-5). He was 2-for-2 with 3 RBI against the T-Birds on Feb. 5.

TONY DeMARCO: The senior third baseman/designated hitter has appeared in 5 games and is batting .261 (6-for-23) with 7 runs scored. Team leader with 2 home runs and has 5 RBI. He was 3-for-5 with a 2-run home run against Saint Mary's on Jan. 29. He was 3-for-5 with a solo home run and 2 RBI against Southern Utah on Feb. 4. He also scored a career-high 5 runs. Has compiled 49 multiple-hit games, which includes: 29 two-hit games, 14 three-hit games, 4 four-hit games, 2 five-hit games.

MICHAEL FORD: The junior outfielder has appeared in 2 games and is batting .429 (3-for-7). He was 2-for-3 against Saint Mary's on Jan. 31. He is out of action for four weeks with a broken right hand.

CHAD HARRIS: The sophomore left-hander has appeared in 2 games and has a 0-0 record with a 0.00 ERA. Has pitched 2 scoreless innings

NATE KAUP: The senior outfielder has appeared in five games and is the team's leading hitter with a .526 average (10-for-19). Team leader with 5 doubles and 9 RBI. He batted .400 (4-for-10) in the Saint Mary's series (Jan. 29-31). He was 2-for-3 with 2 doubles on Jan. 29. Batted .667 (6-for-9) in the Southern Utah series (Feb. 4-5). He was a career-high 5-for-5 with 8 RBI against Southern Utah on Feb. 4. Had 2 doubles, a three-run first inning home run and 4 runs scored. Had a string of 7 consecutive hits (Jan. 31 - Feb. 5), which ranks second in UNLV history. Has hit safely in all 5 games and 13 straight and 21 of 23 games, dating back to last season.

TRENT KITSCH: The junior first baseman has appeared in 5 games and is batting .316 (6-for-19) with 2 doubles and 2 RBI. Batted .333 (4-for-12) in the Saint Mary's series (Jan. 29-31). He was 2-for-4 with 2 RBI in UNLV's 3-1 victory over Saint Mary's on Jan. 31. He was 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored against Southern Utah on Feb. 4.

ADAM MANLEY: The junior outfielder has appeared in 2 games and is batting .333 (3-for-9) with 4 RBI. He was 2-for-5 with 3 RBI against Southern Utah on Feb. 4. He was 1-for-4 with a RBI double against the T-Birds on Feb. 5.

C.J. MARTIN: The junior right-hander has appeared in 2 games and has a 0-0 record with a 3.86 ERA. Has pitched 4.2 innings, allowed 4 hits, 2 runs and has struck out 5. He worked 3.1 scoreless innings and struck out 3 against Saint Mary's on Jan. 30. He pitched 1.1 innings and allowed 1 run against Southern Utah on Feb. 5.

JOE MARUFFI: The sophomore right-hander has appeared in 2 games and has a 0-1 record. Has pitched 2.2 innings and has allowed 8 runs. He suffered the loss against Saint Mary's on Jan. 30. He allowed 8 runs in 0.1 innings. Had a strong relief outing against Southern Utah on Feb. 4. He pitched 2.1 scoreless innings and struck out 2 against Southern Utah on Feb. 4.

ANDY McCULLOCH: The senior right-hander has appeared in 2 games and has a 0-0 record with 1 save and a 4.50 ERA. Has pitched 2 innings and has allowed 1 run and struck out 3. He recorded his first save (6th career) against Saint Mary's on Jan. 31. He pitched 1.1 scoreless innings and struck out 3 in UNLV's 3-1 victory.

RYAN OLSON: The sophomore left-hander has appeared in 2 games and has a 1-0 record with a 5.40 ERA. Has pitched in 11.2 innings, allowed 13 hits, 9 runs (7 earned), 4 walks and 9 strikeouts. He had a no decision in his first start against Saint Mary's on Jan. 29. He pitched 6 innings, allowed 6 hits, 4 runs, walked 2 and struck out 6. He defeated Southern Utah 19-5 on Feb. 4 in his second start. He pitched 5.2 innings, allowed 7 hits, 5 runs (3 earned), walked 2 and struck out 3.

GIOVANNI PUPO: The freshman left-hander has appeared in 2 games and has a 0-0 record with a 2.25 ERA. Has pitched 4 innings, allowed 5 hits, 1 run and struck out 6. He worked 1.2 scoreless innings in his first collegiate appearance against Saint Mary's on Jan. 29. He pitched 2.1 innings against Southern Utah on Feb. 5. He allowed 2 hits, 1 run and struck out 2.

GARETT SHITANISHI: The freshman second baseman has appeared in 5 games and is batting .389 (7-for-18) with 6 runs scored and is 2-for-3 in stolen bases. Batted .500 (5-for-10) in the Saint Mary's series (Jan. 29-31). He was 3-for-5 with a double on Jan. 29 and 2-for-2 on Jan. 31. He was 1-for-3 with 3 runs scored against Southern Utah on Feb. 4. Has hit safely in 4 of 5 games.

ZACH STRONG: The freshman shortstop has appeared in 5 games and is batting .286 (6-for-21) with 3 RBI. He was 2-for-4 with 1 RBI against Saint Mary's on Jan. 30. Batted .300 (3-for-10) in the Southern Utah series (Feb. 4-5). He was 2-for-6 with 1 RBI on Feb. 4. He has hit safely in 4 of 5 games.