STOCKTON -- Cal State LA's baseball team survived a ninth-inning challenge Thursday to stay alive in the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Tournament.

The Golden Eagles scored three times in the third inning and Christian Broussard, Jr. and Gabriel Gentner made it stand up for a 3-2 win over Cal State Monterey Bay in an elimination game at Banner Island Ballpark. Cal State LA (27-23) advances to another elimination game on Friday at 3 p.m. against an opponent that will be determined later on Thursday.

For the second game in a row, Cal State LA was involved in a one-run decision, although Thursday's game was much different than the 9-8 loss to Chico State on Wednesday. In that game, Cal State LA slugged four home runs and Chico State hit two in a slugfest that came right down to the wire.

On Thursday, pitching ruled the day, especially the effort put forth by Broussard. He allowed only four hits -- all singles -- in a tremendous eight-inning outing. He walked one and struck out seven, including the last two batters he faced in a nerve-wracking eighth inning.

The Golden Eagles, who had 15 hits on Wednesday including six extra-base hits, had nine more on Thursday, although eight of them were singles to go along with a double by Sean Watkins.

Tommy Pincin, Drew Seelman and Jorge Garcia each had two hits for Cal State LA, while Angel Sanchez had the key hit of the game, a two-run single that opened the scoring in a three-run third-inning rally.

The last two at bats for Cal State Monterey Bay (28-24) were filled with drama. Broussard mostly sailed through the first seven innings, but the Otters loaded the bases with one out when Jacob Tonascia walked, Zakry Taylor singled and Nick Vigo was hit by a pitch. Broussard, though, regrouped and struck out Max Sanderson looking for the second out and Myles Hager swinging to end the theat.

The ninth inning was also tension-packed. Gentner gave up a one-out single to pinch hitter A.C. Nunez and a two-out walk Hayden Duer. After the runners advanced on a passed ball, Tonascia lined a double to straightaway centerfield that hit high on the batter's eye fence and bounced back into play as two runs scored. Gentner, like Broussard an inning before, regrouped nicely and struck out Taylor looking to end the game. Gentner picked up his ninth save of the season.

Cal State LA scored three times on four hits in the third to take an early lead. Pincin singled to start the rally  and promptly took second on a wild pitch. Seelman singled up the middle as Pincin took third. Nathan Navarrete then reached on a fielder's choice with Pincin beating a throw to third to lead the bases. Sanchez followed with a two-run single to left to give Cal State LA a 2-0 lead. Sanchez moved to second after a double play and Watkins was intentionally walked to set the stage for Jorge Garcia. The Golden Eagles' first baseman delivered, slapping a single to right to drive in Sanchez and making it 3-0.

Those runs ultimately held up and Cal State LA closed out the win.