Northboro, MA --- WPI sophomore Ryan Tropeano (Pembroke, MA) broke the game open with a three-run inside the park home run in a 10-3 non-league triumph over visiting Mass. Maritime Friday afternoon at the New England Baseball Complex.

The Engineers improve to 7-4 on the year while the Buccaneers slip to .500 (2-2).

Senior Jake Petruzzelli (Abington, MA) put the guests on the board with a two-out 2-RBI jack to left center in the top of the first. WPI evened it up behind run-producing singles by juniors Matt Howard (Worcester, MA) and Evan Lacroix (Methuen, MA) in the bottom of the frame.

Sophomore Austin Lindner (W. Windsor, NJ) and senior Connor Kurtz (Lunenburg, MA) began the second with back-to-back hits to set the stage for Tropeano's go-ahead swing. Sophomore Doug Rives (Bethany, CT) and the defense then collaborated for three clean stanzas prior to an RBI ground out by Mass. Maritime junior Logan Sullo (Acushnet, MA) in the top of the sixth. In the previous half inning, graduate student Anthony Capuano (Stoneham, MA) sent a two-out homer over the fence in left.

The Engineers plated three more in the seventh as sophomore Steven Gallagher (Coventry, RI) doubled in a run and scored on a bases-loaded free pass issued to Lacroix. Lindner also drew a walk with the bases juiced. Howard chased Tropeano home in the eight with a double down the right field line. Senior Dan Bettigole (South Windsor, CT) struck out the first two batters of the ninth and induced a fly out to center for the 10-3 final.

Tropeano went 2-for-3 with three RBI, three runs and two walks. Howard (2B, 2 RBI, run) and Capuano (HR, RBI, run) each batted 2-for-4. Lacroix added a pair of RBI and senior Nick Comei (Haverhill, MA) stole a base and scored twice. Gallagher doubled and Lindner pitched in with a pair of walks. Rives (3-0) yielded three runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and one walk in six innings of work. Junior Steven D'Agostino (Worcester, MA) gave up a hit as he and senior Mike Duclos (Greenfield, MA) fanned a batter. Bettigole's added two more strikeouts in a 1-2-3 ninth.

Sophomore Paul Sances (Middleboro, MA) and Petruzzelli each batted 2-for-4. One of Sances hits was a double while Petruzzelli and freshman Jackson Simeone (Seattle, WA) turned a 4-3 double play. Milford senior Daniel Avery fanned five over five innings as rookie Andrew Auld (Wakefield, MA), junior Justin Nichols (Adams, MA), freshman Matt Smith (Lowell, MA) and freshman Nick Haley (Hanson, MA) all took a shift on the hill for the guests.

WPI is scheduled to host Gordon Monday at 3:30pm while Mass. Maritime entertains Johnson & Wales at the same time.