SEASIDE -- Cal State LA's baseball team came close, but couldn't earn a California Collegiate Athletic Association series split at first-place Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday.

After winning in Seaside for the first time since 2014 in the series opener on Thursday, the Golden Eagles dropped the next three games, including a hard-fought 5-3 decision at the Otters Sports Complex on Saturday. Cal State LA ( 14-16, 8-12 CCAA) was able to pull to within two runs after a sixth-inning home run from Malik Clayton, but the Golden Eagles were held scoreless over the final three innings by the Otters (21-11, 17-7 CCAA).

Cal State LA outhit Cal State Monterey Bay, 9-5, but also issued six walks to just one by the Otters.

Clayton went 3-for-4 with his fifth home run of the season and second in the series. Ethan Gonzalez and Kai Penuelas had two hits each for the Golden Eagles.

Miles Halligan got the start and went four innings. He allowed four hits and five runs while walking five and striking out two. Anthony Diaz was outstanding in relief, tossing four scoreless inning and allowing only one hit with one walk and two strikeouts.

Halligan retired the first five batters he faced, but a two-out walk in the second was followed by a two-run home run by Jaden Sheppard that gave Cal State Monterey Bay a 2-0 lead.

The Otters extended their lead to 3-0 in the third, but the Golden Eagles loaded the bases with no one out in the fourth after a walk by Javy Espinoza and singles by Matthew Piortrowski and Isaiah Marquez. Espinoza scored on a passed ball, but the Golden Eagles ended up frustrated after a line drive by Anthony Angel Jr. was turned into an inning-ending double play to end the threat.

After the Otters scored a single run in the bottom of the fourth, the Golden Eagles again closed to within two runs after Gonzalez doubled and Penuelas singled him in to make it 4-2. 

Cal State Monterey Bay added as run in the bottom of the fifth to increase its lead to 5-2 before Clayton led off the sixth with a home run to make it 5-3. Cal State LA, though, managed only two singles over its last three at bats to end the game.

Cal State LA will return to action on Friday with the opener of a four-game CCAA series against Cal State East Bay at Reeder Field.