BUIES CREEK, N.C. – There's an old adage around sports that when you're rolling, things tend to break your way and that was certainly the case Friday night as Campbell scratched together just enough offense to take a 3-2 victory in the Big South opener and record its 12th-consecutive win.

The Fighting Camels used a wild pitch, safety squeeze and a balk to plate their three runs in the most unconventional fashion. Of the nine hits on the night for Campbell, three were bunt singles and another pair never left the infield, but it was enough to overcome a great effort on the mound from Aaron Myers.

Longwood's ace was once again stellar on the hill throwing seven innings and allowing just three runs, two earned, while scattering eight hits. Myers had his stuff working all night and it showed as the senior struck out five while walking just a pair. The loss marks the second time Myers has suffered a tough-luck loss in a one-run game this season.

Dueling with Myers this evening was Campbell ace Heath Bowers who provided an equally impressive performance on the bump. The 6-3, 185-pound right-hander displayed fantastic command and a sweeping slider to keep the Lancers at bay, fanning seven in his 7 2/3 innings of work while not issuing a walk. The Lancers were able to touch Bowers just once as both runs came in the top of the third inning.

In the end, a balk call on Myers for failing to come set made the difference in a disappointing, but thrilling start to the Big South schedule.

"We came out with a lot of excitement, obviously, for the conference opener," said head coach Ryan Mau. "I thought our focus was there, I thought our effort level was there and we just ran into a really good arm. Bowers was outstanding tonight, he went toe-to-toe with Myers and kept us off balance. He did a really good job of using his slider at-will and it was tough to score off him."

In a game where runs figured to be at a premium coming in, Campbell jumped out to an early lead by scraping a run across thanks to a bunt single, error and wild pitch. Camel center fielder Cedric Mullins got the inning started with a well-placed bunt to the left side. The speedy Mullins proceeded to swipe second and advanced to third when the throw skipped into center.

The Lancers would soon answer back as the blue and white notched a pair of unearned runs themselves in the top of the third. After Bowers punched out the first two batters of the inning, Colton Konvicka reached on an error by the Campbell third baseman. Longwood took full-advantage of the opportunity, following with four-consecutive singles to grab a 2-1 advantage.

Travis Biddix, who finished the game 2-for-3, knocked home the tying run by driving a single to center, scoring Konvicka who had stolen second. Biddix has now reached in all 15 games this season as the senior co-captain continues to produce hard-fought at-bats.

"That's Travis," said Mau. "He's done that all year long and that's what we expect from him in that two-hole position. He's a very unselfish player and he can execute  situationally by laying down a sac-bunt and then, when you need a key hit, he puts together a good at-bat every time and is good at cashing in those situations."

Brandon Delk also singled in the frame, extending his hitting streak to seven games. With the base knock, Delk matches Biddix' seven-game streak to open the season as the longest streak of the year by a Lancer.

Longwood would tack on its second run of the inning when Kyri Washington singled on a ground ball to deep short. The Lancers nearly broke through for a big inning as Michael Osinski flared a 2-2 pitch to shallow right center, but Mullins raced in to make the grab and keep two more runs off the board.

The catch turned out to be a huge play as Campbell would level in the bottom half of the fifth. Austin Beard drew a one-out walk in the nine-hole, a free pass that would prove costly for the Lancers. After Mullins laid down another bunt and beat it out for a hit, the two runners advanced on a wild pitch. That set up Campbell for a safety squeeze as Steven Leonard dropped a perfect bunt to the right side scoring Beard.

An inning later, Campbell would retake the lead, this time for good. Seth LaRue led the frame off with a single to left on an 0-2 pitch. The Camels stuck with the small-ball and sacrificed LaRue to second. The eventual game-winning run would advance to third on a wild pitch, before strolling home on a balk. The next two batters were retired on a strikeout and pop out, but it was too late, the damage was done.

With the lead back in hand, Bowers flipped a switch on the mound to ensure the Lancers would not threaten again. The starter would retire four of the last five batters he faced with the lone exception being a hit batsman. Coley Thompkins came on for the final four outs to earn his second save of the season.

Thompkins allowed just one baserunner as Brandon Harvell reached on an error in the top of the ninth. C.J. Roth battled with two down, seeing nine pitches, but sent a lined shot right at the left fielder to end the game.

For Myers on the mound, it was the second time the ace has dropped a quality start this season. A year after limiting Campbell to one run through nine innings, the right-hander was sharp once more against the Camels going seven innings with five strikeouts and allowing just two earned runs.

"I thought Aaron was good tonight," said Mau. "His fastball command was good, his changeup was there, he struggled a bit with the breaking ball and unfortunately a couple of wild pitches hurt him."

On this particular Friday night with two aces dueling, the line between winning and losing was paper thin. A wild pitch, squeeze and balk were enough to push Campbell over the top in the opening game of Big South Conference action.

Longwood and Campbell are scheduled to continue the series at Jim Perry Park Saturday at 4 p.m. Stay tuned to LongwoodLancers.com and follow @LongwoodBase on twitter for potential changes as thundershowers are expected to impact the area tomorrow.