With the bulk of each teams' non-conference slate in the rear view mirror, the Big West softball teams kick off the conference season this weekend as the race for the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament begins anew.

League leading #24/25 Cal Poly will come down to Orange County for its inaugural three-game conference set against perennial league power Cal State Fullerton. Last season, the Mustangs swept the Titans at Bob Janssen Field, the first sweep over CSF since the 2004 season. In all, Cal Poly has won the Big West set against Cal State Fullerton in each of the past two years.

The surprising Cal State Northridge squad will put its gaudy 20-9 record on the line at home this weekend against Pacific, a team that the Matadors have beaten in six of the last nine meetings. It will be a contrast of styles as CSUN has posted a 5-2 record at home, while the Tigers are 11-12 in games away from Bill Simoni Field.

Defending league champion Long Beach State begins its quest for a second straight Big West title at home against UC Davis. In the first Division I meeting between the two schools last year, the 49ers outscored the Aggies 13-3 and shut them out twice in a series sweep. The conference series is the first step toward a repeat for LBSU, something that no Big West team has done since the 49er clubs of 2004 and '05.

The final conference series of the weekend has UC Riverside traveling up to the American Riviera to take on UC Santa Barbara. The all-time series has been a one-sided affair as the Gauchos are a perfect 29-0 against UCR. If the Highlanders win two out of three, it would the program its first conference-opening series win  as a member of the league.

There are also several intriguing non-league matchups in the days leading up to the start of Big West play.

Tuesday's action has UC Santa Barbara traveling to Westwood for a doubleheader against Pac-10 power #5/4 UCLA, #24/25 Cal Poly hosting a doubledip against Santa Clara and UC Davis traveling to Fresno for a twinbill against RV/#24 Fresno State.

Wednesday's slate of games has the Gauchos returning home to play the Broncos, UCSB's first home outings since March 11, UCR taking the trip to Bakersfield for a doubleheader against Cal State Bakersfield and Pacific playing a single game against #16/12 California at Bill Simoni Field.