LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's baseball team certainly had its chances, but ultimately came up short in a wild opener of a four-game California Collegiate Athletic Association opener against Cal State East Bay.

The Golden Eagles pounded out a season-high 20 hits, but also left 13 runners on base in a 9-7 loss to the Pioneers on Friday at Reeder Field. Cal State LA (18-24, 17-21 CCAA) and Cal State East Bay (20-23, 17-20 CCAA) entered the ninth inning tied at 6-6, but the Pioneers scored three times and the Golden Eagles once in the final frame.

The difference in the game was a sensational defensive play in the bottom of the eighth inning and a bit of good fortune for the Pioneers in the top of the ninth. The Golden Eagles looked like they would take the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning when Alec Daily sent a two-out line drive down the right-field line with a pair of runners on base. Cal State East Bay first baseman Omar Sanchez made a diving catch, though, to end the inning and keep the game tied.

In the top of the ninth, Kyosuke Ushimaru collected his third extra base hit of the game and doubled in the go-ahead run to make it 7-6. Sanchez then blooped a single into centerfield to drive in two very important insurance runs that turned out to be the difference in the game.

Cal State LA got one back in the bottom of the inning on a run-scoring single by Aaron McCann, but left the bases loaded and scored just once on four hits to end the game..

Tyler Odekirk was 4-for-5 with two runs scored for the Golden Eagles, while Daily went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and a double. Adam Gordon, Spencer Sundahl, Jordan Peabody and Noe Garcia had two hits each.

Ushimaru had a big game for the Pioneers. He was 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored as he picked up a first-inning triple and a pair of doubles. Sanchez was 3-for-5 with two RBI.

Austin Nazabal went a season-long seven innings for the Golden Eagles and gave up eight hits and six runs while walking five and striking out two. Zachary Grande went the final two innings and gave up three runs.

Ethan Brodsky pitched three scoreless innings of relief for the Pioneers to pick up the win, while Mark Woinarowicz got the save.

Cal State LA and Cal State East Bay will continue the series with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.