LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's baseball team battled back to earn a split Saturday in two well-pitched games at Reeder Field.

After Chico State blanked the Golden Eagles, 4-0, in the opener, Cal State LA scored once in the second and three times in the third to take the nightcap, 4-2, in California Collegiate Athletic Association play. Cal State LA (17-15, 7-8 CCAA) got a superb pitching outing from Jonathan Manuel in the nightcap and a clutch two-run single from Omar Gonzalez to earn the split with Chico State (16-17, 5-10 CCAA).

Manuel allowed only five hits and two runs over six innings to improve to 4-2 on the season. He walked three and struck out five. Jacob Badillo worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning with two strikeouts for his first save.

After the Wildcats took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third, Gonzalez gave the Golden Eagles a 3-2 lead with a two-run single. He later scored on a sacrifice fly by Ethan Gonzalez to make it 4-2.

Neither team scored after that.

In the opener, the Golden Eagles got a sensational start from Ismael Quintero, who allowed only six hits and one earned run over 6 1/3 innings. Even the lone earned run was a bad break as a ball lost in the sun resulted in a run-scoring double in the second inning.

Chico State, though, got a combined shutout from three pitchers. Starter Rocco Borelli scattered seven hits over seven shutout innings with one walk and seven strikeouts, while Nathan Hikes and Manny Lopez each worked a scoreless inning to complete the shutout.

Cal State LA stranded nine runners in the game.

Cal State LA will conclude the series with Chico State with a single game on Sunday at noon.