A Norfolk State balk with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh provided host Longwood with what proved to be the winning run in a 3-2 Lancers’ victory on Wednesday evening at Lancer Stadium.

The loss is the eighth in a row for the Spartans (13-18), while Longwood improves to 21-18.

With the game tied 2-all heading into the bottom of the seventh, NSU freshman right hander Horace Smith relieved starter Jason Barker. Smith was greeted by a Paul Heidler double. Justin Morreim reached on a fielder’s choice and Smith then hit Phil Cerreto with a pitch to load the bases. Smith was relieved by Marcus Taylor who was called for a balk that allowed Heidler to score from third and give Longwood a 3-2 lead.

Lance Harting pitched the final two innings to earn the save for the Lancers. He allowed one hit and struck out one to help John Farrell (3-3) earn the victory. Farrell allowed two runs, one earned, over seven innings.

NSU took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Brandon Hairston singled in Chris Joyce, who had singled earlier in the inning. John Boyd, who walked and advanced to third on Hairston’s single, scored NSU’s second run on a two-out Lancer error.

Longwood chipped away and tied the game with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings off Barker. Heidler had an RBI single in the fifth and Scott Kimble another in the sixth to knot the game at 2-all.

That was all the Lancers could manage off Barker, who was sharp in his fifth start of the year. He pitched six innings and allowed six hits and two runs. He walked three and struck out six to match his career high. He did not factor into the decision.

Smith (0-1) took the loss. He pitched to three batters in the seventh but did not record an out.

Hairston was 2-for-4, as was shortstop Juan Herrera, who was making just his third start of the season.

NSU hosts Maryland Eastern Shore for a MEAC doubleheader on Thursday at 1 p.m. at Marty L. Miller Field. The two games were rained out several times earlier in the month.