RIVERSIDE -- Cal State LA's baseball team used an outstanding starting pitching performance and some timely hitting to post a big victory in its 2016 opener.

The Golden Eagles got seven strong innings from Ralph Ramirez and used a nine-hit offensive attack to beat California Baptist, 8-2, Thursday night at Totman Stadium. Ramirez allowed only five hits and enjoyed some early support from the Golden Eagles, who took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning and then took control of the game with a four-run fourth inning. That was plenty for Ramirez, who surrendered a solo home run to Antonio Chavarria in the bottom of the fourth and little else.

Ryan Welker went 3-for-5 with two RBI and Isaac Dominguez had a pair of hits, scored twice and drove in three runs.

Garrett Dean went 1-for-4 with one RBI for the Golden Eagles.

Tyson Miller worked seven innings for the Lancers and allowed seven hits and five runs, although only three of the runs were earned. The Golden Eagles took advantage of two California Baptist errors while building their early lead.

The Golden Eagles wasted little time grabbing the lead. Nathan Navarrete was hit by a pitch to start the game and Welker followed with single. Dean then contributed a run-scoring single to give Cal State LA an early 1-0 lead. Ramirez worked out of a second-and-third and no one out jam in the bottom of the inning to preserve the early lead.

Cal State LA then broke the game open in the fourth, scoring four times to take a 5-0 lead. Paul Martinez and Kevin Amezquita singled to open the inning and Armett Johnson reached on an error that scored Martinez to make it 2-0. After Angel Sanchez sacrificed the runners to second and third, Dominguez delivered a two-run double to right to make it 4-0. Welker then singled in Dominguez to make it 5-0.

Chavarria got the Lancers on the board in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff home run, but Ramirez rebounded nicely and avoided further trouble through the remainder of his seven-inning stint.

Cal State LA added three runs in the eighth with all three runs scoring after two were out. Johnson was hit by a pitch and Sanchez walked to start the rally. Dominguez singled in one run to make it 6-1, Navarrete reached on an error as a run scored to make it 7-1 and Welker hit a run-scoring single to complete the uprising.

Gabriel Gentner pitched the final two innings for the Golden Eagles and allowed three hits and just one run.

Cal State LA will continue the series against California Baptist with the Golden Eagles' home opener on Friday night at 6 p.m. at Reeder Field.