SHELBY, N.C. (Interstat) — Jaxon Lloyd carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning and combined with reliever JR Fordham on a two-hitter as Longwood opened a Big South Conference series with a 3-1 victory over Gardner-Webb on Friday night at John Henry Moss Stadium.

The Lancers, who entered the game with the league’s best record, improved to 14-4 overall and 1-0 in conference play. The Runnin’ Bulldogs fell to 10-8 and 0-1.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the bottom of the seventh inning, which saw Lloyd’s no-hit bid broken up and Gardner-Webb’s only run score, but also a critical escape by the Longwood bullpen to preserve the lead.

Lloyd, a right-hander, had been dominant through six innings, facing just one batter over the minimum. He had allowed only two walks and hit one batter while striking out five. Gardner-Webb’s first hit came with one out in the seventh when Zack Thompson doubled down the left-field line. Pinch-hitter D. Guevara followed with an infield single, putting runners at the corners. A stolen base by pinch-runner D. Smith allowed Thompson to score, cutting Longwood’s lead to 2-1 and ending Lloyd’s night.

Fordham entered with two outs, a runner on second, and the tying run in scoring position. He walked E. Liao to put the potential go-ahead run on base but induced a groundout from A. Camarillo to end the threat. Fordham then retired the final six batters he faced, striking out two, to earn the save.

Longwood’s offense provided just enough support against a strong start from Gardner-Webb’s Oliver Ellison, who struck out eight over seven innings while allowing two runs on six hits.

The Lancers scratched across the first run in the fifth without a hit. Tré Keels led off with a double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a wild pitch. They doubled the lead in the sixth when Jon Howard led off the inning with a solo home run to left field.

After Gardner-Webb got on the board in the seventh, Longwood added an insurance run in the ninth on a solo home run by Ben Pulliam off reliever Jerek Hobb.

Lloyd earned the win, improving his record on the season. He has now pitched 12 2/3 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run, dating to his previous start, a six-inning, one-run outing against Alabama State on March 6.

Howard and Jae’dan Carter each had two of Longwood’s nine hits. Thompson had two of Gardner-Webb’s five hits.

The teams are scheduled to continue their three-game series on Saturday. Longwood will look to build on its strong start in conference play, while Gardner-Webb aims to even the series.