GASTONIA -- In a tense pitchers' duel in the opening game of the Petitt Cup championship series Friday night, it was the Gastonia Grizzlies who were unable to persevere.

Gastonia reliever Derek Epps walked Ryan Brenner with the bases loaded to plate the only run of the night as the Edenton Steamers topped the Grizzlies 1-0 in 11 innings.

Following an all-night bus ride from Gastonia, the top-seeded Steamers will have a chance to claim their first Coastal Plain League title since 2005 when they host the sixth-seeded Grizzlies in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series at 5 p.m. Saturday.

If Gastonia wins that game, a winner-take-all Game 3 will follow immediately.

Closer Ethan Cole capped a brilliant performance by Steamers pitchers, throwing the last three innings to pick up the victory. Cole, a righthander from Northeast Texas Community College, has not allowed a run in 13-1/3 playoff innings. He has three wins and a save in four appearances.

Steamers starter Benny Mejia and relievers Dustin Quattrocchi, Jordan Egan and Cole combined to limit the Grizzlies to just six hits and four walks.

Of course, the Grizzlies' pitching staff was nearly as effective, blanking an Edenton offense that had been averaging over eight runs per game in both the regular season and playoffs for the first 10 innings. The Steamers managed only five hits, two by Adam Giacalone.

Kevin Whitehead got Edenton started in the 11th inning by drawing a walk. Tim Saunders reached on an error by the catcher and Vinnie Mejia loaded the bases with a single. After Epps walked Brenner to force in a run, he retired three straight Steamers to get out of the inning with no further damage.