OZARK, Ala. (Baseball) -- The Paine College Lions baseball team opened the 2016 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference baseball tournament in Ozark, Ala. in a big way. The Lions were able to halt the charge made by the Kentucky State University Thorobreds in the top of the ninth inning to win the game, 5-4.

Paine's record moves to 27-18 and Kentucky State drops to 13-29.

Jahziel Morel hit a walk-off single down the left field line to score Adam Martin in the bottom of the ninth inning for Paine to win.

As a team, the Lions finished the game with five runs, seven hits, and two errors. KSU accumulated four runs, nine hits, and one error.

Paine's pitching staff put in a solid day of work. Stephen Abernathy picked up the win for the Lions with one inning pitched for one hit, one run, and one walk. Adam Martin was the starting pitcher and went nine innings for eight hits, three runs, four walks and six strike outs.

Kodie Girton suffered the loss for the Thorobreds with eight innings pitched for seven hits, five runs, four walks and 15 strike outs.

The Lions move on to face the winner of the game between Stillman College and Benedict College on Friday at 3 p.m.