FAIRFIELD, Ala. – A game scheduled for seven innings went that length and then some as the Stillman College baseball team's comeback was thwarted in nine innings by the Southern University at New Orleans Knights, 6-5, Saturday morning during day two of the Willie Mays Open. 

SUNO (1-6) built a lead by scoring a run in the second, third and fourth innings each capped by an RBI double to left field by Dylan Jimenez to go up 3-0. 

The Tigers (1-4) struck back in the fifth with an RBI from Kameran Belser, whose groundout allowed Sieas Elliot to score. 

Then in the seventh a big inning erupted for the Tigers starting with a sacrifice fly to left field from Gavin Rehorn which allowed Elijah Anderson to score. Belsar struck with an RBI triple to right field and Elliot scored to cut into the lead further. Griff Minor finished the monster inning with an RBI to bring Belsar across to give Stillman a 4-3 lead. 

The Knights had to score in the bottom of the seventh to extend the game and did so as Peyton Strahan laid down the sacrifice bunt to help Kenny Rhodes score and extend the game to extra innings tied 4-4. 

Stillman jumped ahead in the eighth when the Tigers used strategic base running as Devin Kelly stole second and Samuel Fleming scored on an error by the catcher to take a 5-4 advantage. 

However, SUNO responded with an RBI to third in the bottom of the eighth by Darcy Franklin and then won the game in the ninth as Jose Gonzalez scored on an error to capture the 6-5 win.

Elliot flashed a hot bat for Stillman as he went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a double. Belsar notched two RBIs, a triple, a stolen base and a run on a 2-for-5 effort at the plate. Elijah Anderson posted a double while Michael Glover grabbed a stolen base.

Raymon Vaughn went 2.1 innings in his start with two strikeouts, while allowing four walks, two hits and an earned run. John Roland Jr. went four innings and struck out eight batters. He allowed five hits and two earned runs. Collin Dubose pitched 0.2 innings with a strikeout. Caleb Schreiner worked the final inning and allowed three hits, but no earned runs. 

Stillman College wraps participation in the Willie Mays Open tomorrow against Harris-Stowe State University at 3 p.m.