WEST HAVEN, Conn. (Interstat) — In a back-and-forth Ivy League contest defined by a decisive sixth-inning rally, the Yale Bulldogs outslugged the Harvard Crimson 9-6 in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday at Yale Field.

The Bulldogs, improving to 18-10 overall, overcame an early deficit and a powerful day from Harvard shortstop Jack Rickheim by capitalizing on Harvard miscues and delivering key two-out hits. The Crimson fell to 6-18 despite collecting 13 hits.

Harvard struck first, plating six runs in the opening inning off Yale starter Daniel Cohen. The rally was capped by Rickheim’s three-run single to right field. Yale immediately began chipping away in the bottom half. Chris Diprima drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, and a second run scored on a passed ball, cutting the deficit to 6-2.

Yale continued its comeback in the third inning against Harvard starter Andrew Abler. With two runners in scoring position, Colin Sloan lifted another sacrifice fly. An error on the play by the Harvard left fielder allowed a second run to score, and Chace Chaplin followed with an RBI single to bring Yale within a run at 6-5.

The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the bottom of the sixth inning. After Rickheim hit a two-run homer in the top of the frame to extend Harvard’s lead to 8-5, Yale responded with a game-altering outburst. With two outs and the bases empty, Garrett Larsen ignited the rally with a single. Diprima walked, and Jack Dauer tied the game with an RBI single to right center. After a stolen base, Jackson Hays delivered the decisive blow, a two-run double down the right field line to give Yale an 8-6 lead it would not relinquish.

The Bulldogs added an insurance run in the seventh on an RBI single by Kaiden Dossa. Harvard mounted a final threat in the eighth, scoring twice on an RBI single by Aidan Colasante and a run-scoring triple by Liam Wilson to close to 9-8. Yale reliever Alex Hwang entered with two on and two out, striking out Rickheim looking to end the inning. Hwang then retired the side in order in the ninth to secure the victory.

Cohen earned the win for Yale, allowing six runs on six hits over five innings with three strikeouts. Abler took the loss for Harvard, charged with eight runs, four earned, on six hits in five-plus innings. Rickheim led all hitters, going 3 for 5 with a home run, a double and three RBIs. Hays drove in two key runs for Yale, while Colasante and Wilson each had three hits for the Crimson.

The teams were scheduled to conclude the doubleheader later Saturday.