WAIPAHU, HAWAII -- Cal State LA's baseball team got its 2026 season off to a loud start with a pair of wins on Friday at Hans L'Orange Park.

The Golden Eagles put up five runs in the second inning, six in the sixth and five in the eighth to beat Hawaii Pacific, 16-1, in the season opener for both schools and then got five hitless innings from Alejandro Huezo in a 6-3 win over Chaminade in the second game on Friday night.

In the opener, the Golden Eagles got outstanding pitching from Jonathan Manuel, Ismael Quintero and David Medrano, who combined to limit the Sharks to just three hits and one run. Manuel made the first start of his Cal State LA career and tossed four shutout innings, allowing only one hit and issuing four walks while striking out three. Quintero, the 2025 California Collegiate Athletic Association Freshman of the Year, allowed only two hits and one run over the next 3 2/3 innings with two walks and a career-high six strikeouts. Medrano finished up by getting the final four outs with one strikeout.

Ben Lee, who earned All-CCAA honorable mention last season for the Golden Eagles, led a 10-hit attack by going 2-for-5 with a home run and five runs batted in. Newcomer Isaiah Munoz went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and three RBI from the leadoff spot. Munoz and Lee combined to go 4-for-8 with five runs scored and eight RBI from the top two spots in the order.

Kai Penuelas was 1-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI and Cesar Chavez was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and one RBI. 

The Golden Eagles did all their scoring in three big innings. Cal State LA took a 5-0 lead in the second inning. Penuelas hit into a fielder's choice to drive in the first run and Munoz delivered a three-run triple. He scored on a ground out by Lee.

Penuelas hit a two-run double to begin a six-run sixth inning for the Golden Eagles. Lee had a two-run single to make it 9-0, Omar Gonzalez drew a bases-loaded walk and Chavez had a sacrifice fly to make it 11-1.

Lee hit a two-run home run to begin a five-run eighth inning for the Golden Eagles. Kai Butler and Ethan Gonzalez drew bases-loaded walks to make it 15-1 and Trey Brooks completed the scoring with a fielder's choice.

Huezo was the star of the game against Chaminade (0-1), tossing five hitless innings with one walk and five strikeouts. Alejandro Morales allowed only one hit and one run over the next three innings and Luis Fernandez closed things out in the ninth.

Carson Panarisi was 3-for-4 with three RBI, while Gonzalez hit a solo home run. Munoz had another two hits and scored a run, while Alberto Prado went 1-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI.

The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the third. Prado doubled in Munoz for the first run of the game and Panarisi singled in two runs to make it 3-0. Penuelas made it 4-0 with a bases-loaded walk.

Gonzalez increased the lead to 5-0 with a solo home run in the fourth and Panarisi walked with the bases loaded to give the Golden Eagles a 6-0 lead in the sixth.

Chaminade broke the shutout bid with a run in the eighth and scored twice in the ninth before Fernandez got the final out with one runner on base.

Cal State LA will return to action on Saturday with a single game against Hawaii Pacific before concluding the Hawaii trip with two games against Chaminade on Sunday.