Box Score STOCKTON -- Cal State L.A.'s baseball team got off to a strong start in its opening game of the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Tournament and that's probably an understatement.

The Golden Eagles scored three runs in the first and three in the second and beat Chico State, 9-0, Thursday at Banner Island Ballpark. Cal State L.A. (32-19) got an outstanding start from Jordan Sechler and backed him with a 13-hit attack that featured seven extra base hits.

The Golden Eagles, seeded second in the tournament, will face Sonoma State at 6 p.m. on Friday. The Seawolves, the No. 4 seeds, beat No. 1 seed Cal State Monterey Bay in the other opening-day game of the double-elimination tournament.

Cal State L.A., which is making its fourth conference tournament appearance, won its opening-day game for the first time in the program's history. The Golden Eagles were 0-3 in their prevous three tournament openers. The Golden Eagles' only other tournament win came in an elimination game against Cal State Dominguez Hills at the 2009 tournament.

James Wharton, who received his CCAA Player of the Year award at a banquet earlier in the day, smacked a two-run home run in the first inning to stake Cal State L.A. to a quick 3-0 lead. The Golden Eagles added three more runs on three hits in the second inning, including a bases-loaded, two-run double by Cody Doyle that made it 5-0.

Sechler showed no signs of relinquishing the early lead and went eight strong innings. He didn't allow a hit until the fourth inning and then stranded five baserunners over the next three innings. He retired the Wildcats in order in the eighth inning and left after allowing only four hits and two walks while picking up his seventh win of the season. Sechler was one of seven Golden Eagles to receive All-Conference awards earlier in the day.

Adan Cabrales preserved the shutout with a scoreless ninth inning to complete the win.

Cal State L.A. did all its scoring in three innings, scoring three times in the first, second and sixth innings.

Wharton, who hit his conference-leading 13th home run, was 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Jeremy Weber was 3-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBI, while Doyle was 3-for-4 with three RBI and Scott Masik was 2-for-5 with two runs scored.

The first four batters in the Golden Eagles' lineup - Masik, Weber, Wharton and Doyle - were a combined 10-for-17 with eight runs scored and seven RBI. Tyler Christian, batting fifth, had a pair of RBI. Manny Acosta added a triple and a run scored.

After Sechler retired the Wildcats in order in the first, Cal State L.A. scored three quick runs off Chico State starter Nick Baker (8-2). Masik singled to center and Weber doubled him home to give the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead. Wharton followed with a home run to left to make it 3-0.

The Golden Eagles added three more in the second. Masik beat out an infield hit with one out and Weber delivered his second double in as many innings to move him to third. After Wharton was walked intentionally, Doyle doubled to left to increase the lead to 5-0. Christian added a sacrifice fly to make it 6-0.

Cal State L.A. completed its scoring with three runs in the sixth. Acosta led off with a triple and scored on a two-run single up the middle by Weber. Wharton drew another walk and Doyle followed with a run-scoring single to make it 8-0. Christian added a run-scoring single to boost the lead to 9-0.

Chico State and Cal State Monterey Bay will meet in an elimination game on Friday at 2 p.m. and that game will be followed by the Cal State L.A.-Sonoma State game at 6 p.m.