LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's baseball team was unable to overcome a shaky start in a disappointing 6-5 loss to UC San Diego in the California Collegiate Athletic Association series finale at Reeder Field on Sunday.

The Golden Eagles fell into a 5-0 hole in the first inning due in part to three errors and then had three runners thrown out on the basepaths in the second and third innings to help short-circuit rallies in a 6-5 loss. The game, which was originally scheduled as the second game of a doubleheader, was a seven-inning contest.

Cal State LA (6-13, 5-3 CCAA) outhit UC San Diego, 11-7, but the three first-inning errors and the early outs on the basepaths proved to be too much. After UC San Diego (16-4, 6-2 CCAA) took a 6-0 lead in the top of the third, the Golden Eagles scored three times in the third, once in the sixth and once in the seventh and had the tying run on third as the game ended.

Brandon Zavala came on in relief in the first inning and allowed only three hits and one run in five strong innings. Daniel Diaz got the final out of the sixth and the first out of the seventh, Jesus Farias got the second out of the seventh and Gabriel Gentner got the final out of the seventh in a solid performance by the bullpen.

Ryan Welker, Nathan Navarrete and Christian Broussard, Jr. had two hits each. Navarrete, who had a pair of doubles, also scored twice.

Tim Nelson pitched 2 2/3 innings of solid relief for UC San Diego to pick up the win, while Kyle Mora allowed only an unearned run while getting the final four outs of the game to get the save.

Nate Adams started for the Golden Eagles and was victimized by the defense. He allowed three hits and two walks in the first, but a dropped fly ball, an errant throw and an infield fielding error contributed to the five-run first inning for the Tritons. Tyler Plantier had a two-run double and Tyler Howsley had a sacrifice fly in the inning.

Cal State LA picked up three hits in the second, but couldn't score when two of the three outs were recorded on the bases. Broussard lined a shot off the right-field wall, but was thrown out trying to reach second. Paul Martinez singled and took second after a single by Trevor Meleski, but Angel Sanchez hit a liner to right-center that was snared by Jack Larsen, who doubled Martinez up at second to end the inning.

UC San Diego made it 6-0 in the top of the third on a run-scoring single by Steven Coe.

The Golden Eagles struck for three in the bottom of the third. Isaac Dominguez walked and took second on a single by Armett Johnson. Ryan Welker hit a one-out single to make it 6-1 and Johnson made it to third on a throwing error, but Welker was thrown out trying to steal second base right before Navarrete drilled a double to drive in Johnson and made it 6-2. Broussard followed with a double as well and Cal State LA pulled to within 6-3.

Navarrete doubled and came around to score after a groundout by Martinez to make it 6-4. In the seventh, Sanchez singled and Ryan Dixon hit a one-out pinch-hit single to start another rally. Hernandez hit a sharp grounder that Hearn made a nice play on and tagged the bag at third for a force, but his errant throw to first in an attempt to end the game allowed pinch runner Christopher Flores to score and Hernandez to reach third. Welker hit a bouncer up the middle that shortstop Tyler Howsley made a nice play on to end it.

Cal State LA will return to action on Saturday, March 12 in a three-game conference series opener at Stanislaus State.