SAN MARCOS -- Cal State LA's baseball team took the opener of a California Collegiate Athletic Association doubleheader against Cal State San Marcos on Saturday and saw a stunning late rally come up just short in the nightcap.

The Golden Eagles, trailing 11-1 heading into the sixth inning of the seven-inning nightcap, exploded for eight runs and had the bases loaded before the Cougars escaped the jam and went on to a 13-9 win at Dennis A. Pugh Field. Cal State LA (26-23, 16-15 CCAA) won the opener, 6-4, behind strong pitching from Ismael Quintero and Jared Robles. The Golden Eagles are one game behind Cal State San Marcos (28-14, 15-12 CCAA) for third place in the conference after Saturday's split.

The day started off well for the Golden Eagles, who scored once in the first inning and four times in the second to take an early advantage in the opener. Quintero worked six strong innings, allowing only six hits and three runs over six innings to pick up his third win of the season. Robles limited the Cougars to just three hits and one unearned run over the final three innings to pick up his third save of the season.

Ben Lee, Alberto Prado, Carson Panarisi and Kadyn Victorian had two hits each for the Golden Eagles, who had nine hits in the game.

Omar Gonzalez delivered a sacrifice fly to get the Golden Eagles on the board in the first, only for Zech Samayoa tie it in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run.

Cal State LA, though, responded with four runs in the top of the second and never looked back. Victorian doubled in the first run of the inning to give the Golden Eagles the lead for good. Lee singled in Victorian to make it 3-1 and a two-run single by Prado made it 5-1.

Cal State San Marcos got a two-run single from Rees Kent in the fourth to make it 5-3, but Quintero blanked the Cougars over his final two innings of work before turning things over to Robles.

The Golden Eagles increased the lead to 6-3 when Omar Gonzalez drew a walk and a wild pitch on ball four allowed Victorian to score. The Cougars scored an unearned run in the ninth inning to account for the final score.

In the nightcap, the Golden Eagles tool a 1-0 lead in the first on a run-scoring double by Prado, but the Cougars scored six times in the first, three times in the third and two in the fourth to take an 11-1 lead.

Cal State LA was unable to get anything going until the sixth inning when the Golden Eagles erupted for eight runs to get back into the game. Prado started the rally with a two-run home run and a run-scoring double by Panarisi made it 11-4. Kai Penuelas followed with a three-run home run to make it 11-7 and Prado singled in a run - his third RBI of the inning - to make it 11-8. Ethan Gonzalez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to get the Golden Eagles to within 11-9, but that's as close as they would get.

Prado was 3-for-4 with four RBI for the Golden Eagles, while Cesar Chavez, Panarisi, Ethan Gonzalez and Peneulas had two hits each. Omar Gonzalez scored three runs.

Cal State LA will conclude the series on Sunday with a single game at Cal State San Marcos beginning at 2 p.m.