POMONA -- Nick Peifer smashed a leadoff home run to left field in the bottom of the first inning, but that would be the only run of the game for the Cal Poly Pomona baseball team, which suffered a 4-1 loss to visiting Cal State L.A. in the series opener Thursday night at Scolinos Field in Pomona.

The Broncos fall to 8-7 overall and 6-3 in the CCAA.  The Golden Eagles improved to 3-9 (2-6 CCAA).

After Peifer's home run in the first, CPP was held to just five more hits the rest of the way.  CSULA scored its first two runs of the game in the fourth inning on a fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly on consecutive at bats to take a 2-1 lead.  The Golden Eagles would then score a run in the fifth and another in the sixth to hold a 4-1 advantage.

The hosts wouldn't go down without a fight, however, as the Broncos loaded the bases up in the eighth, but CSULA reliever Zachary Grande got pinch hitter Patrick Flynn to fly out to end the threat.  In the bottom of the ninth, the Broncos would put runners on first and third with two outs, but again, Grande came up big, inducing a game-ending fly out to Ryon Knowles to secure his first save of the year.

Peifer and McKenzie both had two hits for CPP in the ballgame, accounting for four of the six by the Broncos.  Cal Poly Pomona starting pitcher Ben Mora (0-3) went five innings, allowing three runs on six hits and four walks, striking out five.  

Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State L.A. will continue its series in Los Angeles on Friday with a doubleheader at Reeder Field beginning at 3:00 pm.