Northboro, MA --- Junior David Larson (Port Tobacco, MD) struck out nine and homered in a 5-1 WPI victory over New England College Friday afternoon at the New England Baseball Complex. The squads close out a three-game series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at noon.

Larson (3-0) yielded one run on seven hits and three walks in his first collegiate complete game in 10 career starts. Senior Ryan Tropeano (Pembroke, MA) connected on a two-run triple and stole a base while junior Tyrone Patterson (Upper Marlboro, MD) also went yard for the home team.

The Pilgrims were led by sophomore Connor Morin (North Andover, MA) who batted 2-for-3. Senior Christian Aybar (Pawtucket, RI) tripled and classmate Manuel Alejandro (East Hartford, CT) was credited with the lone NEC RBI. Junior Stanley Vargas (Boston, MA) shouldered the decision, allowing four earned runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out a season-high 10 batters.

Aybar opened the game with a triple and was chased home on an infield ground out by Alejandro. Tropeano then scampered home on a wild pitch to even the game in the bottom of the first before his two-out, two-run swing in the bottom of the second. Patterson launched his round-tripper with a pair of outs in the home half of the fifth and Larson led off the bottom of the sixth with his home run.

Sophomore Jordan DeDonato (Danvers, MA) registered the final hit of the day as both sides were retired in order in the seventh and eighth. The top of the ninth featured a pair of walks and a hit-by-pitch to load the bases; however, a fly ball to right ended the game.