FLEMINGTON, N.J. – Senior Tim Maxwell drilled his first career home run but it was not enough as New England College claimed a 17-7 win over the Centenary University baseball team in the final game of a three-game set on Friday.

New England (7-3) scored three runs in the first inning and a pair of runs in the top of the second for an early 5-0 lead.

Centenary got on the board in the bottom of the third inning. Seniors Mike Dolan and John Tierney reached on infield singles with one out. Maxwell then stepped to the plate and launched a ball over the fence, which pulled the Cyclones to within two, 5-3.

The Pilgrims tacked on two more runs, including one on a sacrifice fly and led 7-2 in the fifth inning.

The Cyclones answered in their half of the frame. Maxwell reached on a single and came around to score on senior Kevin Sensale's double to left field. With one out, junior Ryan Jasiecki tripled to right center and touched the plate thanks to sophomore Jon Fleck's single to right field.

New England pushed its lead to 9-5 in the top of the sixth on a two-run double from Stanley Vargas.

The Pilgrims tacked on six more runs in the top of the seventh. That big inning was highlighted by a three-run home from Christian Aybar.

Trailing 16-5 in the eighth inning, the Cyclones got two runs back. With two outs, Maxwell was hit by a pitch and came home to score on a home run off the bat of Sensale.

A sacrifice fly from Aybar in the ninth inning made the final score 17-7.

Jake Scanlan earned the win on the mound as he gave up five runs on 11 hits in five innings of work. Junior Frankie Iannone took the loss for the Cyclones after surrendering five runs on six hits in two innings.

Evan Delaney was 3-for-4 with four runs scored while Xavier Nunez finished the day with two hits, two RBIs and three runs scored.

Maxwell paces Centenary at the plate as he was 3-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Sensale contributed three hits and three RBIs while Jasiecki and Fleck each posted three hits.

The Cyclones will be back in action when they host John Jay College in a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.