Though shortstop Monica Amburgey didn't know it at the time, the Gators' sweep of the Sonoma State Seawolves on April 5 means SF State now posts a balanced conference record for the first time this season.

"Really?" said a smiling Amburgey when told of the record. "We're finally getting ahead, so that's gotta feel good."

The day after these two teams split a doubleheader, the Gators knocked off the Seawolves 6-1 and 9-1 to improve to 10-10 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (24-16). Sonoma State falls to 2-16 (14-24).

The Gators swung at everything and hit plenty all day, connecting with a total 20 hits in the doubleheader to heap more misery on the Seawolves, who before the weekend had just one conference win.

In game one, Amburgey hit a triple into the right field before sliding into third as teammate Karolyn Gubbine—who had also just hit a triple—was crossing home plate. The play capped a three-run, three-hit second inning to put the Gators up 4-0 en-route to the 6-1 win.

Gubbine scored the afternoon's first run after hitting a double that was followed up by Jordanna Freemer's ground-ball single. Gubbine had another key hit in the third, sending home Kelly McDonald for a 5-0 score.

In game two, Gubbine, Amburgey and Freemer all had hits to take advantage of bases loaded situations in four-straight at-bats, keying a 6-0 lead going into the third.

Gubbine led the Gators with five hits, three runs scored and five RBIs over the two games. For the Seawolves, Kayla Ledford had two runs and two hits, while Nicole Cordova added three hits and two RBIs.

On the defensive side, freshman pitcher Ashley Jackson improved to 12-6 on the season after giving up just three hits and striking-out seven in the day's first game.

"Both the offense and defense did an all-round good job," Jackson said. "That's really important because in a lot of games this year we've been shut out offensively, but we all did great today."

Fellow-freshman Kendra Wood pitched game two, but was arguably more productive at-bat, slugging two hits for two RBIs. As pitcher, she wobbled on the mound toward the end of the game and allowed the Seawolves to rally for five hits and four runs over three innings.

"Kendra was not as sharp as normal, but she hung in there and pitched well enough for the win," Gator coach Christine Byrne said. "She's a little banged up, a little sore—they all are."

Nearly every Gator player ended the weekend with ice packs strapped to arms, shoulders and knees—a sight that was a testament to the long season already played. But having started the CCAA season 0-4 and fighting back to .500, some battle wounds are to be expected.

Chasing a playoff spot, SF State now has to play top conference foes in Cal State Stanislaus, CSU Monterey Bay and UC San Diego—all teams above the Gators in the standings.

"It feels good to get our third conference series win today, as it's really a stepping-stone to what's coming up," said Byrne, whose Gators were playing in their first home game series this weekend since March 18. "We're back on track, and playing at home [this weekend] and lighting up the bats again feels great."