SAN FRANCISCO --- The beginning of California Collegiate Athletic Association action didn't start the way the SF State Gators had hoped, but the Gators aren't losing hope. SF State heads back out on the road, looking to bounce back to the strong start the Best of the West Invitational Champions had to open the 2013 season. The Gators will face Chico State--a team they have already beaten once this year--for a four-game conference series, with doubleheaders beginning at 12 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday.

The Gators (5-4) come off a 1-3 CCAA start after grabbing the first win in a four-game series at Sonoma State, but couldn't carry the win through the rest of the games. Sonoma State held SF State scoreless in two of the four games and forced the Gators to leave 12 runners stranded in a 6-2 loss Saturday morning. The weekend dropped the Gators into a tie for sixth place with Cal State San Bernardino (3-6, 1-3 CCAA), Chico State (3-6, 1-3 CCAA) and Cal State Stanislaus (6-6, 1-3 CCAA).

Coming off an injury, Brittany Barcellos went 3-for-5 at the plate in her first two games back to post a team-high .600 batting average. Courtney Gravel follows behind with a .452 average, putting her 11th in the conference leaderboard for batting averages. Kylie Grabowski also ranks amongst the CCAA leaders with a team-high nine RBIs, putting her in 13th place.

From the circle, Marisa Ibarra boasts a 2.26 ERA in five complete games. Her average puts her sixth in the conference's pitching leaders, just behind Chico State's Kayla McConnel. The senior right-handed pitcher has thrown 22 strikeouts in 31.0 innings pitched.

Chico State comes into the series after opening conference with a similar 1-3 record. The Wildcats dropped the first three games at Cal State Dominguez Hills, but held on to a 4-3 decision in the final contest agaisnt the Toros. Earlier this season at the Best of the West Invitational, SF State took down the 'Cats 8-0 in six innings en route to the championship title.

McConnell leads the team from the circle with a 1.98 ERA, ranking fifth in the CCAA, and has struck out eight batters, however, the right-handed pitcher is still looking for her first win from the circle. Alex Molina leads the team with 14 strikeouts and boasts a 3.94 ERA for a 2-2 record.

While Emily McEnaney leads the Wildcats from the plate with a .385 batting average off 10-for-26 hitting, McConnell has also picked up a hit in her only appearance at the plate for a 100-percent batting average. McEnaney has grabbed three doubles and a home run so far, batting in six runners. Also in the 300s for the 'Cats are Desiree Gonzalez (.360) and Alli Cook (.333). Gonzalez has laid down nine hits, including two doubles and three homers, while picking up seven RBIs. Cook tallies 10 hits, including a triple, and has one RBI.

The four-game series will be held at the Chico State softball field and will also feature live stats found at http://sidearmstats.com/csuchico/softball/xlive.htm.