LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's baseball team bounced back from a rough opening game to earn a doubleheader split Saturday at Reeder Field.

After falling to Stanislaus State, 10-3, in the opener, the Golden Eagles held off the Warriors, 8-7, in the nightcap of a non-conference doubleheader between two California Collegiate Athletic Association foes. Both games of Saturday's doubleheader were nine-inning contests.

Cal State LA salvaged the final game of the three-game series with a nerve-wracking win. The Golden Eagles jumped out to leads of 4-0 and 6-2, only to see Stanislaus State score four times in the seventh to tie it. Noe Garcia delivered a go-ahead run-scoring single to break the tie and Andre Gregory added a run-scoring single later in the inning to make it 8-6.

Sean Watkins, who belted his first home run of the season in the opener, came on to pitch the final two innings and picked up his first save. He struck out four over the two innings and allowed only one run.

Gregory had himself quite a seventh inning. He started the game at second base, but came on in relief to get the final out in the top of the frame to keep the game tied. Then, his run-scoring single in the bottom of the inning turned out to be the game-winning run and gave him the victory as a pitcher.

Randy Buenrostro went 2-for-5 with four RBI, while Adam Gordon had three hits and scored three runs. Watkins and Jorge Garcia also had two hits for the Golden Eagles, who had 14 hits for the game.

James Mendez started for the Golden Eagles and scattered nine hits over 4 2/3 innings while striking out seven. He gave up two runs, although only one was earned. George Alamillo pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief before Robbie Stowell and Gregory worked the seventh. Watkins finished up with two strong innings for the save.

Stewart Alexander allowed six hits and four runs over two innings for Stanislaus State, while Matt Pulos pitched well in relief, allowing only two unearned runs over four innings. Blake Wilson allowed the final two runs for Cal State LA and took the loss.

Jack Large had three hits and scored two runs for the Warriors, who collected 16 hits.

The two teams combined for seven errors and stranded 22 runners.

In the opener, Watkins, who led the CCAA in home runs last year, hit his first of the season in the third inning to stake the Golden Eagles to a 2-1 lead. Stanislaus State, though, took a 4-3 lead through six innings and tacked on six runs in the seventh and eighth innings to earn the win.

Nate Adams pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, while R.C. Orozco worked a scoreless ninth inning. Angel Lerma got the start and gave up six hits and three earned runs over 4 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out three.

Watkins drove in two runs and scored twice in the opener.

Cal State LA will return to action at 6 p.m. on Thursday with the opener of a three-game series against the University of British Columbia.