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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Two teams at the lower half of the Ohio Valley Conference standings looked like clubs battling for an OVC Tournament spot on Friday as UT Martin beat Eastern Illinois, 2-1, in 11 innings in what turned out to be a pitcher's duel.
 
Jake Johansmeier and Jackson Zarubin both were sharp for their respective clubs.  Johansmeier pitched nine innings for EIU allowing one run.  Zarubin pitched eight innings for UTM exiting in the ninth after allowing Caleb Howell to lead off the inning with a single.
 
"Jake was outstanding.  We just didn't get any big hits," said EIU head coach Jim Schmitz.  "Hopefully we can finish this senior weekend better."
 
EIU dropped to 11-32 overall, 7-18 in the OVC.  UTM is now 16-31, 8-17 in the OVC.  The series will resume at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Coaches Stadium.
 
The Skyhawks scored their first run in the eighth inning as Nico Zych drove home Andrew Castillo with a sharp single to left field.  Zych was 2-for-4 in the game while Castillo was 3-for-6.
 
EIU tied the game in the bottom of the ninth.  Howell led off with a single against Zarubin.  Patrick Bernard (2-2) would enter in relief to try and save the game.  Demetre Taylor's single to right sent Howell to third with one out.  Bobby Wenthe then beat out a double play ball where the throw pulled the first baseman from the bag as Howell scored the tying run.   Howell finished 3-for-5 pushing his season average to .403.  Taylor was the only other EIU player with multiple hits going 2-for-5.
 
Bernard worked three innings and picked up the win for UTM.  Chase Thurston (2-1) pitched two innings in relief for the Panthers and picked up the loss.
 
UTM opened the 11th with a leadoff walk.  After Mikey Nantze laid down a sacrifice bunt, Fletcher Johnson had his second hit of the day with a double to right center that scored Andrew Massey.