LOS ANGELES – Cal State LA's baseball team had its chances to erase an early deficit, but came up short Monday night in its four-game series finale against Northwest Nazarene.
 
The Golden Eagles stranded 12 runners on base and fell to the Crusaders, 7-3, at Reeder Field. Cal State LA (5-2) stranded 12 or more runners in each of the last three games of the series after taking the opener on Thursday.
 
Northwest Nazarene (2-2) scored five times in the first inning and added single runs in the fourth and eighth innings and earned the series split.
 
Cal State LA pitchers walked 12 batters, while Northwest Nazarene pitchers walked seven.
 
Garrett Dean had a pair of hits, including his second home run of the season. He belted a deep drive over the right-center field wall to lead off the ninth.
 
Andrew Hermanson and Jesse Burke also drove in runs for Cal State LA.
 
Matt Lightfoot had two hits and drew a pair of walks for Northwest Nazarene, while Kyle Redford scored twice and drove in two runs in the first inning with a double.
 
Adam Paulson allowed five hits and two runs in five innings to get the win for the Crusaders. Ryan Dixon took the loss for the Golden Eagles. Nate Adams pitched five strong innings of relief for Cal State LA, allowing only one hit and an unearned run. Austin Nazabal allowed an unearned run in one inning of work, while Holden Berger and Daniel Ferrell pitched one scoreless inning each.
 
Cal State LA will return to action on Friday with a game against Concordia Portland at Dixie State at noon.