Box Score
Due West, S.C.----After being shutout for eight innings, the Erskine College Flying Fleet scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to register a 2-1 victory over the visiting Wingate University Bulldogs in NCAA Division II baseball action Friday afternoon. The game was the season opener for both teams, as Erskine moves to 1-0 overall and the Bulldogs fall to 0-1.

Sophomore infielder Blake Prince (Winter Park, Fla.) was three-for-four with a double to lead the Wingate offense. Junior outfielder Eric Serra (Miami, Fla.) had the lone RBI on the day, while redshirt senior infielder Brian Yeung (Raleigh, N.C.) was two-for-four.

Austin Gambrell was one-for three with an RBI to lead the Erskine offense. Cody Spence was one-for-four with an RBI, while Drew Willingham was one-for-three with a run scored.

The Bulldogs got on the board in the third, when sophomore shortstop Michael Godinez (Cutler Bay, Fla.) reached on an error to start the inning. Sophomore outfielder Will Sapp (Salisbury, N.C.) moved him to second with a bunt, while an RBI single from Serra plated Godinez.

The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the fourth, but were unable to add an insurance run. Prince doubled in the fifth, but was stranded at second.

Erskine’s first good scoring chance came in the sixth via a leadoff single, stolen base and an error. With runners on second and third with two outs, junior right-hander Ben Currie (Clemmons, N.C.) induced an inning-ending groundout to keep Wingate on top by one.

Godinez led off the seventh with a single, then moved to second on another sacrifice from Sapp. A groundout and flyout ended the Wingate threat. Singles from Prince and sophomore catcher Josh Clark (Clemmons, N.C.) in the eighth gave Wingate another chance, but once again the Bulldogs left a pair of runners on base.

Willingham led off the Erskine ninth with a single, which was followed by two walks. Gambrell was hit by a pitch to tie the game at one. Spence followed with the game-winning RBI single.

Kit Carter got the win in relief, pitching the final 1 1/3 innings without allowing a hit, striking out two. Redshirt senior right-hander Joshua Karr (Richmond, Va.) took the loss, falling to 0-1. He allowed two runs on one hit in the ninth, walking two. Currie had a solid start, shutting out the Flying Fleet for six innings, allowing two hits while striking out two. Freshman right-hander Tyler Brown (Suffolk, Va.) tossed two scoreless innings in relief, striking out one.
 
Wingate and Erskine meet for a doubleheader Saturday, with game one starting at 12 p.m.