Eastern Illinois men's played short-handed on Thursday afternoon with only five players available following illness to several other team members. Despite the set-back, EIU battled against Saint Louis before falling 5-2.
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EIU would split the two doubles matches that were contested but lost the overall doubles point by not being able to field a third doubles team and forfeiting the match at No. 3 doubles. Â
Pau Riera and
Thomas Wallace continued their solid doubles play this season moving up to play at No. 1 doubles and picking up a 6-4 win.
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Wallace also secured one of the two singles points for EIU winning in two sets at No. 3 singles over Luca Lo Nardo. Wallace won 6-4, 7-5.
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EIU's final point came at No. 2 singles with
Tyler Carlin jumping up to play at the No. 2 position. Carlin won in three sets over Declan Townsend.  Carlin lost the opening set 6-3 before rallying to win 6-4 in the second and then 1-0 (10-8) in the third set tie-break.
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EIU fell to 1-7 on the season and plays a pair of weekend matches against Omaha and Marquette this weekend in Milwaukee. Saint Louis improved to 1-2.
