Methuen’s Matt Pappalardo fired six innings of one-run ball while striking out 14 hitters while Methuen scored three runs in the seventh to come back and defeat No. 12 Andover, 3-1, in the opening round of the MIAA State Tournament.

“Andover’s guys battle one through nine but Matt is nails,” Methuen coach Cam Roper said. “He dealt with adversity. Made pitches tough spots. Then he saved his best for last with that immaculate sixth inning.”

Trailing 1-0 in the seventh, the Rangers rallied.

A Drew Lachance single and Joey Pride double put runners on second and third with nobody out and knocked Andover ace Chris Jaillet from the game. Two batters later Noah Kneeland lofted a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 1.

An intentional walk to Pappalardo put two runners back on, and then Owen Sullivan came through with the go-ahead RBI single to give the Rangers up 2-1. An infield single by Daremin Escano Vargas extended the lead two.

Sullivan struck out the side in the seventh in relief of Pappalardo, working around an error, to seal the win.

“We had runners on base all game but just couldn’t break through,” Roper said. “It’s a credit to our guys for just staying mentally engaged and toughing it out.”

Andover’s lone run came in the bottom of the 4th on a Chase Lembo sacrifice fly. Jaillet, meanwhile, held the Rangers scoreless through the first six striking out 10 while working around traffic before running into trouble in the 7th.