LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's baseball team had its opportunities to rally for an important California Collegiate Athletic Association victory Friday night, but the Golden Eagles fell short.

The Golden Eagles scored three times in the eighth and had the potential go-ahead runs on base in the final two innings of a 6-4 loss to Cal State San Marcos at Reeder Field. Cal State LA (21-17, 18-15 CCAA) trailed 6-1 entering the eighth and the Cougars (17-22, 12-21 CCAA) were able to hang on for the win in the four-game series opener.

Sean Watkins went 3-for-4 and hit his team-leading seventh home run of the season, while Andre Gregory also had three hits and scored a run.

Angel Lerma gave the Golden Eagles a chance to rally, tossing five scoreless innings.

Cal State San Marcos got a strong start from Taylor Greene, who allowed nine hits and three runs over 7 1/3 innings. Brady Corson, Garrett Apker and Austin Ott finished up for the Cougars. Tyler Place, Cabot Van Til, Aidan Stinnett and Ott had two hits each. Van Til hit his fifth home run of the season.

Cal State LA's Noe Garcia had a strong game behind the plate at catcher, throwing out three Cal State San Marcos base runners.

Cal State San Marcos scored in each of the first four innings, but Lerma blanked the Cougars over the final five innings, allowing five hits, walking three and striking out four.

Cal State LA got on the board in the second inning to make it 2-1 when Nic Bereaud singled in Watkins.

Watkins started the rally in the eighth with a one-out home run to right-center. Anthony Moreno doubled in a run to make it 6-3 and Jordan Peabody was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 6-4. Cal State LA left the bases loaded in the eighth and then had two on with two outs in the ninth and couldn't score.

Cal State LA will return to action on Saturday with a single game against Cal State San Marcos at 1 p.m. The series will conclude on Sunday with a doubleheader at Cal State San Marcos.