LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's baseball team had another impressive comeback ready for the four-game California Collegiate Athletic Association series finale against Chico State.

The Golden Eagles fell behind the Wildcats, 4-0, after two innings, but then scored five runs in the third inning on their way to an 8-4 win Sunday at Reeder Field. Cal State LA (18-15, 8-8 CCAA) won three of the four games in the series and pulled to within one game of four teams that are tied for second in a tightly-packed conference race.

Adam Axtell hit a go-ahead three-run home run in the third inning as part of a clutch 3-for-4, four RBI game for the Golden Eagles.

It was an impressive bounce-back game and series for the Golden Eagles, who suffered a lopsided four-game sweep at Cal State San Bernardino last week. Cal State LA, after giving up 62 runs in four games against the Yotes, allowed only 11 in the four games against Chico State (16-18, 5-11 CCAA).

Brandon Gutierrez was a terrific example of the Golden Eagles' resilience. He was roughed up last Sunday in the series finale against Cal State San Bernardino and struggled a bit in his start this Sunday. He gave up three runs in the first inning and one more in the second, but finished his outing with four scoreless innings to earn the win and improve to 3-2. After Cal State LA staked him to a 5-4 lead, Gutierrez allowed only one hit over his final three innings.

Cal State LA added three more runs in the fifth inning, two on a home run from Kai Penuelas, to stretch the lead to 8-4.

Jared Robles allowed only one hit over three shutout innings to record his first save of the season.

After trailing 4-0 entering the bottom of the third inning, Cal State LA erupted for five runs and changed the entire complexion of the game. Kadyn Victorian started the rally by reaching on an infield error and promptly stole second. Cesar Chavez singled him to third and he scored on a run-scoring double by Ben Lee to make it 4-1. Alberto Prado reached on a fielder's choice to make it 4-2 and Axtell followed with a three-run blast over the right-centerfield fence to give the Golden Eagles the lead.

Cal State LA added to its lead in the fifth. Prado reached on an error to start the inning and Axtell delivered a run-scoring double to give the Golden Eagles a 6-4 lead. Penuelas followed with a two-run home run to right and the Golden Eagles grabbed an 8-4 lead.

Cal State LA will begin a four-game series at Cal State East Bay on Thursday.