LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's baseball team tried to rally late, but came up short in a well-played California Collegiate Athletic Association opener against Cal State Monterey Bay.

The Golden Eagles scored runs in the sixth and ninth innings, but couldn't overcome a 4-0 deficit in a 4-2 loss to the Otters on Friday at Reeder Field. Cal State LA (20-15, 17-8 CCAA) fell out of first place in the CCAA, while Cal State Monterey Bay (22-12, 15-10) remained in a tie for third.

Nate Rohlicek was the main story of the game as he limited the Golden Eagles to just one run and three hits over eight strong innings. He didn't allow a hit until Kadyn Victorian lined a triple just out of the reach of a diving KW Quilici with one out in the sixth. Victorian scored the Golden Eagles' first run of the game on a groundout by Isaiah Marquez.

Rohlicek was able to work around a leadoff double to Gilbert Morales and a one-out pinch-hit single by Malik Clayton in the eighth without any damage and exited with a 4-1 lead. He didn't walk a batter and struck out six to improve to 2-1.

Andrew Kotin gave up a run in the ninth and earned his fourth save.

Anthony Lopez had his best start of the season for the Golden Eagles, going a season-long 6 1/3 innings and giving up four runs. He had to exit the game in the seventh after getting an out at first on a sacrifice bunt. Isaac Quintero came on for the second out and Anthony Diaz got the final out of the inning to keep Cal State LA in the game. Diaz pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief in another strong performance.

The Otters broke out to a 3-0 lead in the third inning. Max Farfan hit a two-run home run and Lopez got Jaden Sheppard to hit into a double-play with the bases loaded for the third run.

Lopez also escaped a bases-loaded jam with minimal damage in the fifth, getting another double-play ball and getting the final out on a comebacker.

Cal State LA cut it to 4-1 in the sixth thanks to Victorian's triple and the Marquez ground out, but the Golden Eagles didn't score again until the ninth. Ben Lee doubled to left to start the inning, moved to third on a grondout by Alberto Prado and scored on a sacrifice fly by Cesar Chavez, but Kotin got the final out without incident to end it.

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