BUIES CREEK, N.C.- Campbell opened its 2008 A-Sun slate in thrilling fashion topping Mercer 5-4 in ten innings, Friday evening at Taylor Field. Campbell (3-1, 1-0 A-Sun) remains unbeaten at home in 2008 claiming its third consecutive victory.

Although Campbell starter Justin Lilly went seven strong innings, scattering nine hits and four runs, left-handed hurler Hunter Ford (1-0) picked up his first victory of the season and first of his career. The sophomore from Wilmington, N.C. tossed three shutout innings, highlighted by an induced double-play ground ball to get out of a jam in the top of the eighth inning. Mercer reliever Michael Shaw (0-1) was credited with the loss allowing one run over 1.2 innings pitched.

Carlton Floyd, Zach Johnson and Ellis Lowe headlined Campbell's offensive attack stroking two hits apiece, while senior Mike Causey collected two RBI. Campbell pitchers struggled with Mercer's Mike Armstrong and Joe Winker as they went a combined 5-for-6 with three RBI and three runs scored, batting in the heart of the Bears' order.

After Mercer (1-4, 0-1 A-Sun) plated two runners in the top of the first thanks to hits by Matt Crawford, Armstrong and Winker, Campbell answered in the bottom of the second scoring two runs on a Mike Causey homer. Johnson led off the inning with a single to left-center field only to be driven in by Causey's first career home run leaving the score knotted at 2-2.

Lilly found himself in trouble in the third and fourth innings as Mercer scored a run in each. Armstrong was driven in on a double by Winker in the third after inducing a two out walk, followed by a one run fourth on back-to-back hits by Billy Shaughnessy and Thomas Carroll.

Campbell clawed its way back in the six and seventh innings answering Mercer with a run in each making the score 4-4 after seven complete innings. Floyd led the sixth off with a single to right field and Ryan Hamme followed being hit by a pitch which set the stage for Johnson. Johnson, a sophomore shortstop from Smithfield, N.C., stroked a one out single to left field giving him his team leading fifth RBI of the season.

A pair of Campbell freshman, Lowe and Graham Fronk, led the seventh inning off with singles, putting runners on for a hit by Floyd. Floyd's liner to left field plated Lowe, who was the tying run, but failed to score Fronk after Mercer's right fielder John Dortch threw Fronk out at third base.

Ford eluded danger in the top of the tenth inning after Mercer's Crawford singled and Armstrong was walked intentionally with two outs. Both Crawford and Armstrong advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch, but Ford struck out Richard Bentley to end the inning.

Campbell provided its final blow in the bottom of the tenth inning after Floyd blasted another single to lead off an inning. After Floyd advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Hamme and Brian Gana was walked intentionally, Johnson hit a chopper to Mercer pitcher Justice French. French overthrew Mercer's second baseman in attempt to roll a double-play but his error enabled Floyd to score the winning run.

Campbell earned its 26^th all-time victory over Mercer as Friday marked the 50^th meeting between the two institutions. The last time Campbell hosted Mercer in an A-Sun series was in 2006 when the Camels took two-of-three games by a combined score of 25-13.

Campbell continues its series against Mercer tomorrow at Taylor Field. A double-header is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.