FAIRFIELD, Conn. (Interstat) — Luke Nomura launched a go-ahead, three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning, capping a late rally that lifted the Fairfield Stags to a 9-6 victory over the Yale Bulldogs in nonconference baseball Tuesday at Webster Bank Arena.

The game’s decisive moment came after Yale had clawed back to tie the score at 6-6. In the eighth, Fairfield’s Nolan Colby led off with an infield single and TJ Schmalzle reached on a bunt and a Yale error, putting two runners on with one out. Nomura then stepped in against Yale reliever Ethan Lewis and drove a pitch over the left-field fence, turning a tie game into a three-run Fairfield lead.

Nomura, the Stags’ shortstop, finished 1 for 3 with four RBIs. His home run was his second in three games.

The Stags’ bullpen secured the win, with Ryan Maiorano pitching a scoreless ninth inning to close it out. Nick Kelly and Alex Frank also provided key scoreless relief outings for Fairfield.

Yale built an early lead with a five-run outburst in the top of the fifth inning. Trailing 5-2, the Bulldogs sent 11 men to the plate. Jack Dauer delivered an RBI double, Garrett Larsen and Chris Diprima added run-scoring hits, and Bryce Miller capped the rally with a solo home run to right field, giving Yale a 6-5 advantage.

Fairfield answered immediately in the bottom of the sixth when Matt Bucciero led off with a solo homer to center off Yale reliever Nicholas West, knotting the score at 6-6.

The game featured back-and-forth momentum shifts after a slow start. Both teams were held scoreless through two innings before Fairfield broke through with two unearned runs in the third, aided by a Yale error. The Stags added three more in the fourth, highlighted by RBI singles from JP Kuczik and Jake Haarde, to take a 5-2 lead.

Yale starter Matthew Pearch allowed two unearned runs over two innings. West provided strong middle relief for the Bulldogs, tossing 2 2/3 scoreless innings and allowing just one hit while striking out two after entering in the fourth.

Fairfield starter Jack Sheldon went four innings, allowing two runs on four hits. He was followed by Will Youngman, who was charged with four runs in the fateful fifth inning.

Yale outhit Fairfield 10-7 but left 11 runners on base. The Bulldogs’ bullpen, aside from West, struggled as Lewis was charged with two unearned runs in the eighth to take the loss.

With the win, Fairfield improved to 12-11 overall. Yale fell to 13-9.

The Stags are scheduled to visit Merrimack for a three-game series starting Thursday. Yale is set to open Ivy League play with a doubleheader at Princeton on Saturday.