LA JOLLA -- Cal State LA's baseball team started well Thursday in its California Collegiate Athletic Association series opener against UC San Diego, but the Golden Eagles were unable to produce a big finish.

The Golden Eagles scored two runs in their first at bat, but managed only one run the rest of the way and fell to the surging Tritons, 6-3, at Triton Ballpark. Cal State LA (22-20, 19-18 CCAA) dropped its third straight game, while UC San Diego (29-13, 25-12 CCAA) won its ninth straight.

Spencer Sundahl hit his third home run of the season for the Golden Eagles, while Sean Watkins was 2-for-5 with a triple. Jorge Garcia was 1-for-4 with one RBI and Anthony Ayala was 1-for-3 with one run scored.

Cal State LA got some outstanding relief pitching from Saxon Andross, who didn't allow a run over the final 2 2/3 innings. He got out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning to keep the Golden Eagles close and then blanked the Tritons over the final two innings.

Angel Lerma started for the Golden Eagles and gave up six hits and five earned runs over 5 1/3 innings.

The Tritons also got outstanding relief from Cameron Kurz, who struck out all four batters he faced to record his eighth save of the season.

The Golden Eagles scored two runs to take an early lead. Ayala led off with a double and scored on a two-out triple by Watkins. He then scored on a run-scoring single by Garcia.

The Tritons, though, tied it up on a two-run double in the bottom of the first from Alex Eliopulos and then scored one in the second and three in the fourth.

Cal State LA scored its final run in the seventh inning on a solo home run by Sundahl.

Cal State LA will return to action on Friday with the second game of the series at UC San Diego.