SAN FRANCISCO --- After starting the 2013 season with the best start SF State softball has seen in recent years, going 4-1 to win the Best of the West Invitational two weeks ago, the Gators will look to build upon the momentum despite the early bye week. SF State heads to Sonoma State on Friday and Saturday for a pair of doubleheaders to start the Califorina Collegiate Athletic Association. Action begins at 12 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Seawolf Softball Field.

"I'm excited going into this weekend's games against another one of the top conference teams," said head coach Cristina Byrne. "I said last week would be a benchmark for us and we set the bar high. The girls are hungry and ready to play against another team. It's almost like we have a renewed focus after this break. We're not satisfied. We're ready to get back out and do more."

En route to the Best of the West championship, SF State took down three ranked opponents, two of which are fellow CCAA members. The Gators opened the tournament with an 9-1 run-rule victory over No. 17-ranked Cal State Monterey Bay, before downing National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics No.1-ranked Cal State San Marcos 5-4. SF State's last two wins came against common adversaries Chico State and No. 11-ranked Cal State Dominguez Hills with the Gators taking the Wildcats 8-0 in six innings and grabbing a come-from-behind 6-4 win over the Toros.

"I'm happy with how aggressive we are at the plate," said Byrne. "We continued to show that at practice this week. We've been doing a lot of live practice. It's pretty unusual to have a bye weekend so early in the season, so we've been focusing on staying prepared like we were entering the first weekend."

Four Gators boast batting averages higher than .450 after the Best of the West tournament. Lucy Fernandez leads with a .667 average after she went 2-for-3 in the win against the Toros. Kylie Grabowski and Marisa Andrade each sit with .500 averages, with Grabowski holding a .786 slugging percentage. Grabowski knocked seven hits in the five games, including a double and a home run to be named to the all-tournament team and Best of the West Most Valuable Player.

Joining Grabowksi on the all-tournament team were Marisa Ibarra and Courtney Gravel. Ibarra leads the pitching staff with a 1.56 ERA off 18 innings pitched. The senior through a shutout victory over Chico State in her second complete game on the Gators' opening day. She went 3-0 over the weekend, throwing 14 strikeouts in the process.

"I told the pitchers, 'keep us in games and we'll score runs,'" said Byrne. "They can focus on challenging batters instead of pitching around hitters, worried about giving up runs. Our offense has helped get them comfortable in the circle."

Gravel batted at .471 off eight hits, with 4 RBIs, putting down a double and a triple and successfully stole two bases to help lift SF State to the tournament title. Defensively, Gravel made crucial plays to end innings and keep opponents off the scoreboard, helping the Gators outscore their opponents 28-12.

"Our defense has been solid," said Byrne. "They continue to get better as they get to know each other."

Heading into this weekend's games, Byrne will be able to add another name to the lineup. After having to sit out the first weekend due to injury, Brittany Barcellos returns to the diamond for the Gators, bringing some depth with her.

"One concern I had was getting Brittany back from her injury," said Byrne. "She's coming back and will be ready to go this weekend. She adds speed and an additional outfielder so I'm excited about that. Plus her pressence in the dugout alone will help us as well."

Sonoma State enters the competition with a 5-2 overall record, 2-0 on its home field. The Seawolves opened the season with a two-game sweep at home, beating Academy of Art 1-0 and 6-1. At the Desert Stinger tournament this past weekend, the Seawolves posted a 3-2 record, picking up wins against Central Washington (10-7), Western Oregon (5-2) and Grand Canyon (4-0). SSU fell in the opening game 10-7 to University of Mary and suffered a 3-1 defeat to No. 24-ranked Dixie State.

Hayley Condon leads the Seawolves with a .476 battine average, while Vanessa Currie and Aubrie Tolliver round out the top three with .421 and .400 averages, respectively. Power-wise, Currie leads SSU with a .842 slugging percentage after blasting two home runs and two doubles this season so far.

The Seawolves, who last year went 36-19 and made an appearance at the National Collegiate Athletic Association West Region tournament, return their "strikeout queen" Samantha Lipperd to the circle. Lipperd threw a nation-best 396 strikeouts last year, earning herself Daktronics West Region Pitcher of the Year and her second All-American honor.

"It's great to go up against a challenge like Lipperd and our offense is ready for that," said Byrne. "I think we can be successful if we find good pitches to hit and focus on our game plan. We can't let her dictate what she wants us to hit."

Lipperd currently boasts a 2.85 ERA in 27 innings pitched after allowing 29 hits and 11 earned runs, while striking out 43 batters.

Fans can follow the weekend's action via a live video feed at http://www.sonomaseawolves.com/custompages/live/softball.html or through live stats at http://www.sidearmstats.com/sonoma/softball.