By Grant Abston, Sports Editor

Led by shortstop Willie Uechi and junior college transfer Travis Latz, the 11th-ranked ACU Wildcats opened the 2009 season with a 5-2 win in extra innings against Incarnate Word Tuesday afternoon.

After Incarnate Word tied the game at two in the bottom of the fifth inning, neither team managed a run until ACU broke the tie in the bottom of the 11th inning. Despite putting two runners on in the bottom of the tenth, pitcher Brad Rutherford got the Wildcats out of the inning after forcing a inning-ending double play.

Texas Tech transfer and second baseman Chris Hall reached on an error to start the 11th inning before Incarnate Word recorded consecutive outs. Alex Harrison kept the inning alive after drawing a walk and Uechi drove in Hall on the next at-bat to give ACU a 3-2 lead.

Latz recorded his second and third RBI of the game after a two-out double to give ACU a 5-2 lead. Incarnate Word managed to get one man on base with one out in the bottom of the 11th inning, but Rutherford forced a game-ending double play to give ACU head coach Britt Bonneau his 499th win as ACU’s head coach.

Starting pitcher Preston Vancil pitched 4 1/3 innings, giving up four hits and two runs. Pitchers Kevin Justice, Cameron Aspaas and Rutherford combined to allow just four hits and no runs over the final 6 2/3 innings.

The Wildcats next game will be Friday at 4 p.m. as ACU hosts New Mexico Highlands in their home opener.