Sonoma State Softball continues to rack up their CCAA award count with two of their athletes winning awards after the team’s performance against San Francisco State. These recognitions came after the Seawolves swept SFSU and prevented them from scoring a single run across all four games played between Feb. 17 and 18. Nichole Sarra earned the CCAA (California Collegiate Athletic Association) Softball Pitcher of the Week award for the week of Feb. 13 through Feb. 19. The senior pitcher threw SSU Softball’s first perfect game in the program’s history on Feb 18. In a 45-pitch game, Sarra sent 15 batters in a row back to the dugout from where they came.

Giana Hays was the other player that received the CCAA Player of the Week award for her offensive game, the junior was grateful to push her team further on the CCAA’s radar. “The more our team is able to shine and be recognized for our achievements, the more we are able to make a name for ourselves not only in our conference but the region as well,” Hays said.

As for her thoughts on what’s to come for the rest of the season, Hays talks about how beneficial the team’s chemistry has been for them. All of their starters are upperclassmen who have been on the first line since they were underclassmen together. They’ve grown and developed together for years, this is what makes the group so special. It “is just a great recipe for success.”

“Both these women have been working tirelessly on their mental strength and approaches to the game,” Head Coach Jennifer Bridges notes in talking about Sarra and Hays’ progression. They’ve developed new trust in their athleticism, “That’s when you can find real success,” Bridges adds.

Coach Bridges has spent 14 seasons with the SSU program, consistently keeping the team ranked within the top five. When asked about her thoughts on how far the program has come since her start in 2010, she said, “I truly give the most credit to the women who were brought into this program and set the bar for future teams. The leadership within this program has been by far the most impactful part of our success.”

The Seawolves continued their success this past Friday and Saturday as they battled it out with Stanislaus State, coming up with another sweep. SSU won their first game 5-3, but the second of the day was postponed. As for Saturday, Sonoma won both games, the first 6-2 and the second 4-2. The team is now on a 12 game win streak to start the season.

“We don’t want to get lost in the big picture and just try to think one game, one day, one series at a time,” coach Bridges adds in discussing the team’s linear progress this season, now being 13-1 and 7-0 in conference play.