SAN FRANCISCO --- It's been a long five weeks on the road for SF State softball, but the Gators will finally host their home opener this weekend. The Gators host National Collegiate Athletic Association Div. II No. 5-ranked Cal State Dominguez Hills in a four-game California Collegiate Athletic Association series.

The Gators (8-9, 4-8 CCAA) come off a split at Cal State Stanislaus where SF State surrendered two games in the last innings to give the Warriors the wins. Cal State Dominguez Hills enters the pair of doubleheaders after posting a 3-1 record against Cal State San Bernardino to stand 14-4 overall and 6-2 CCAA to place first in the conference standings.

Courtney Gravel leads the Gators at the plate batting just under 400 at .395 off a team-high 17 hits. Marisa Andrade and Kylie Grabowski round out the top three hitters, with Andrade averaging .294 at bat and Grabowski batting .286. Grabowski tops the team with 12 RBIs, putting her in the top 20 of the CCAA. Ashley Huff leads the conference with four triples.

Marisa Ibarra, who boasts a 2.27 ERA from the circle, and the rest of the Gators will have their hands full trying to contain the Toros who collectively bat .333 at the plate. Three Toros average higher than .450 at the plate, led by Adriana Sanchez with a .484 batting average--topping the CCAA batters. Brittany Brenner and Christina Chavez follow with .481 and .464 to take second and third in the conference, respectively. 

Of the 22 home runs the Toros have knocked, Sanchez accounts for nine of them to boast a 1.048 slugging percentage. Sanchez has batted in 23 of CSUDH's 122 runs.

From the circle, Stephanie Jimenez averages 1.32 ERA to lead the conference and has struck out 79 batters. Lauren Harper follows with a 2.32 ERA and has grabbed 76 strikeouts on the way.

Friday's doubleheader is slated for a 12 p.m. start time, with Saturday's action beginning at 11 a.m. Fans can follow the action online at http://www.sidearmstats.com/sfsu/softball/xlive.htm.