Due West, S.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs played their sixth consecutive game against a ranked opponent Wednesday afternoon, falling to the 30th-ranked Flying Fleet of Erskine College 5-1 in NCAA Division II baseball action. Erskine improves to 13-3 overall, while the Bulldogs fall to 14-7 on the season.

Freshman infielder Will Huff (Sugar Hill, Ga.) was two-for-three with a double, two RBI and a run scored to lead the Flying Fleet attack, while sophomore infielder Drew Willingham (Hodges, S.C.) added a homer and two RBI for Erskine.

Sophomore outfielder Dodson McPherson (Graham, N.C.) was two-for-four with a run scored to lead the wingate offense, while junior outfielder Casey Allison (Horse Shoe, N.C.) went one-for-three with a double.

The Flying Fleet struck first in the second, taking advantage of a Wingate error and getting an RBI groundout from senior infielder Casey Winckowski (Oregon, Ohio). A two-run homer from Willingham in the third pushed the Erskine lead to 3-0.

Wingate got on the board in the sixth, when McPherson led off the inning with a single, stole second, then scored on an Erskine error to make it 3-1.

The Flying Fleet responded in the bottom of the inning, scoring on a sacrifice fly from Huff to regain a three-run lead. An RBI double from Huff in the eighth made it 5-1.

Senior left-hander Carlton Watts (Laurens, S.C.) got the win, improving to 3-0 on the year. He allowed a run on three hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out three. Freshman right-hander Ben Currie (Clemmons, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 0-3 on the season. He allowed three earned runs on nine hits in 7 2/3 innings of work, striking out three.

The Bulldogs return to conference play Friday, traveling to Salisbury to take on the 23rd-ranked Catawba Indians at 7 p.m. The two teams play a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday, giving the Bulldogs nine consecutive contests against teams ranked in the top 30.