ABILENE -- The ACU Wildcats will open the 2010 season ranked No. 13 in the nation, according to the Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division II pre-season poll, which was released in late December.
The Wildcats finished 44-19, won the Lone Star Conference championship and reached the NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament in 2009.
Defending regional champion Emporia State (Kan.) enters the season ranked No. 1 in the nation, followed by Florida Southern at No. 2, California-San Diego at No. 3, Southern Arkansas at No. 4 and Mesa State (Colo.) at No. 5. Other teams in the South Central Region who are ranked in the top 30 are Central Missouri at No. 11, ACU at No. 13, Angelo State at No. 21, and Cameron at No. 28.
The Wildcats will take on both Angelo State and Cameron in Lone Star Conference play (both of those series will be in Abilene), and they'll also play a pair of games against Texas-Permian Basin (one on the road and one at home). The Falcons reached the regional tournament last season and received votes in the pre-season national poll.
The Wildcats will also continue their non-conference rivalry with Delta State (Miss.) of the Gulf South Conference and NCAA Division II South Region. The Wildcats and Statesmen will play in Cleveland, Miss., with single games scheduled for Tuesday, March 16 and Wednesday, March 17, at Ferriss Field.
Head coach Britt Bonneau enters his 14th season as the Wildcats' head coach in 2010 with five everyday starters returning, including senior shortstop Willie Uechi and senior second baseman Chris Hall who form one of the top middle-infield duos in NCAA Division II baseball.
The Wildcats will also welcome back starting pitcher Cameron Aspaas as well as middle reliever Kevin Justice and all-America closer Brad Rutherford.
ACU will get the 2010 season started on Saturday, Feb. 6, when it hosts Harding in a 2:05 p.m. doubleheader at Crutcher Scott Field. The four-game series against the Bison will conclude Sunday, Feb. 7, when the teams hook up in a 12:35 p.m. doubleheader at Crutcher Scott Field.
