FAIRFIELD, Conn. (Interstat) — The Fairfield Stags built an 11-run lead and then held off a furious late rally by the New Haven Chargers on Tuesday afternoon at Webster Bank Arena, securing a 13-11 victory.

Fairfield improved to 25-20, while New Haven fell to 10-32.

The Stags struck first with four runs in the bottom of the first inning. TJ Schmalzle singled to start the inning, and Nolan Colby followed with a single before Matthew Bucciero launched a three-run home run to right-center field. Connor Scanlan singled, and after a lineout, Zach Stephenson singled and Dom Cam added a sacrifice fly to make it 4-0.

After a quiet second inning, Fairfield added four more runs in the third. Connor Scanlan doubled to lead off, and after Jake Haarde was hit by a pitch, Stephenson walked to load the bases. A fielder’s choice cut down a runner at the plate, but Luke Spencer’s sacrifice fly scored Haarde. Ryan Paine then crushed a three-run homer to right field, extending the lead to 8-0.

New Haven got on the board in the fourth when Matt McIntire homered to right, driving in Joseph Frazzetta and cutting the deficit to 8-2. But Fairfield responded with a five-run fourth that broke the game open. Nolan Colby walked, and after Bucciero flied out, Scanlan walked. Jake Haarde then hit a three-run homer to left field. The Stags kept the pressure on with walks to Stephenson, Dom Cam and Luke Spencer. Ryan Paine hit an infield fly, but TJ Schmalzle doubled to left center, driving in two more runs to make it 13-2.

New Haven mounted a significant rally in the top of the sixth. Jake Russo walked, and Frazzetta singled. Matt McIntire singled in a run, and after a walk loaded the bases, Ej Ettinger walked to force in a run. Aedan Forde’s sacrifice fly brought home another run, and Michael Christian’s groundout plated a fourth run of the inning. Nick Ungania then singled up the middle to score Ettinger, cutting the deficit to 13-7.

The Chargers continued to chip away in the ninth. Michael Christian walked, and Ungania and Cam McGugan also walked to load the bases. Jake Russo singled through the left side to drive in a run, and Joseph Frazzetta grounded out to third to bring home another. Matt McIntire struck out, but Clark Beattie doubled to right center, scoring two more runs and making it 13-11. Ej Ettinger grounded out to end the game.

Fairfield outhit New Haven 14-9. Stags pitchers used a committee approach: starter Hunter Hoxie allowed two earned runs on four hits with one strikeout over four innings. Joseph Chambers struck out two in a perfect fifth. Jake Memoli faced three batters without recording an out before Will Youngman threw two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out one. Matt Kalfas worked a scoreless eighth, and Brandon Miller closed the ninth despite allowing three runs.

New Haven starter Justin Eckrote pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, allowing no hits and striking out one. Blake Beattie took the loss.

Matthew Bucciero led the Fairfield offense with a 2-for-5 day, including the first-inning three-run homer and a double. Ryan Paine went 1-for-5 with a three-run homer. Jake Haarde was 1-for-2 with a three-run homer, and TJ Schmalzle went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a double. For New Haven, Matt McIntire finished 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs, and Clark Beattie was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

The most pivotal moment came in the bottom of the fourth, when Fairfield’s five-run outburst turned a six-run lead into an 11-run advantage, effectively sealing the outcome despite New Haven’s late charge.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Fairfield 6, New Haven 5, and its ELO system gave Fairfield a 73.50 percent probability to win.