CHICO -- Cal State LA's baseball team got its final four-game California Collegiate Athletic Association series off to a strong start Thursday night.

The Golden Eagles scored three times in the seventh inning to take command and got another outstanding start from Owen Hunt to beat Chico State, 6-3, at Nettleton Stadium. Cal State LA (18-28, 13-24 CCAA) held a 6-1 lead entering the ninth inning and closed it out for its fifth straight series-opening win.

Hunt was outstanding once again, allowing only two earned runs over 8 1/3 innings. He scattered nine hits and walked four while striking out eight. He now leads the CCAA in innings pitched for a second straight year with 85 1/3 and third in strikeouts with 75. He improved his record to 6-4 and is one shy of the conference leaders in that department.

Matthew Piotrowski delivered a key two-run double in the seventh inning to give the Golden Eagles some breathing room. He continues to lead the team with a .383 batting average, 11 home runs, 50 RBI and 44 runs scored and is among the conference leaders in all categories.

Michael Rosales went 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Drew Emmons went 1-for-4 with two runs scored and ohe RBI.

Jeffrey Ray and Andrew Crane had two hits each for Chico State (18-24, 12-20 CCAA).

The Golden Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Kai Penuelas doubled down the left-field to drive in Fabian Moran. Cal State LA extended its lead to 2-0 in the fifth when a groundout by Emmons drove in Kadyn Victorian-Young.

Hunt carried a shutout into the sixth inning when Chico State got on the board with a run-scoring single by Elijah Jackson. Hunt, though, responded by getting an inning-ending double play ball to preserve the lead.

Cal State LA came right back with three runs in the seventh inning, all after two were outs. Johnny Pacheco walked to start the rally and Emmons followed with a single. Piotrowski drove in both runners with a double left-center and Rosales singled in Piotrowski to make it 5-1.

Cal State LA extended the lead to 6-1 in the ninth when Rosales singled up the middle with two outs to drive in Emmons.

Hunt left with the bases loaded and one out and Mikell Chavez came on to get the final two outs.

Cal State LA will return to action on Friday with a doubleheader at Chico State beginning at noon.