Feb. 13, 2001
ABOUT LEWIS-CLARK STATE
Lewis-Clark State enters with a 2-0 record after opening the season with a pair of wins over Central Washington.
Six Warriors are hitting .500 or better, led by Gabe Stajduhar who hit .800 (4-for-5) in the first series.
The Warriors are eleven-time NAIA National Champions, with back-to-back championships in 1999 and 2000. The 2000 title was the fifth in the 90's for Lewis-Clark State.
INJURY UPDATE
Ryan Olson suffered a broken ankle on the first day of practice. He took an awkward step off the mound, causing the break. He is expected to be out two more weeks before he can begin throwing.
Joe Maruffi is expected to be out approximately one week days due to shoulder tendinitis.
ROD SOESBE
Rod Soesbe begins his 17th season at UNLV. On Sept. 10, 1996 he was named head coach, the fourth in UNLV baseball history. Soesbe spent 12 seasons as the top assistant to Fred Dallimore.
In the Summer of 1999, he served as an assistant coach for the USA Baseball National Team under Texas A&M head coach Mark Johnson.
The 2001 season is Soesbe's fifth as the head coach of the Hustlin' Rebels. Last season, he led the Rebels to a 24-33 record, 14-16 in the Mountain West Conference.
UNLV compiled a 43-17 record in 1996 and captured the Big West Tournament Championship with victories over nationally ranked UC-Santa Barbara, Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State. UNLV also posted the fourth highest batting average (.332) in school history that year and set single-season school records for most runs scored (550) and most runs batted in (500).
Soesbe came to UNLV in 1985 and served as the team's hitting instructor, working with the infielders and third base coach.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
The tough 2001 schedule boasts competition against four teams that ranked in the top 25 at the end of the 2000 season. No. 7 Clemson, No. 8 Nebraska, No. 17 UCLA and No. 19 Penn State are stacked on the first half of the schedule as the Rebels prepare for the grind of their second season in the Mountain West Conference.
AUTOMATIC BID
Twenty-nine conferences receive an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. 2001 marks the first season the Mountain West Conference will receive an automatic bid. The winner of the MWC Championships, held in San Diego May 16-19, will receive the automatic bid.
