Fresno State will begin Western Athletic Conference play right where it left off.

The defending WAC tournament champion made it four consecutive titles with a doubleheader sweep against New Mexico State last May at Les Murakami Stadium to advance to the NCAA tournament.

The Bulldogs return to Hawaii to begin conference play tomorrow night against the Rainbows in the first of a four-game series at 6:35 p.m.

The Bulldogs (17-12) have won four in a row and eight of 10. They are led by first baseman Jordan Ribera, last year's hero in the WAC tournament, who is tied for the league lead with 12 home runs.

Ribera hit game-winning home runs in both games against the Aggies last May, and has continued that hot streak into his junior season, hitting .339 with 31 RBIs.

“;If you're going to win the league, you're going to have to wrestle it away from Fresno,”; Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said. “;They're the favorites, they have been the favorites, and they look to have a great team again this year.”;

The Bulldogs lost first-team all-WAC selections Alan Ahmady, Holden Sprague and Tom Mendonca to the MLB First-Year Player Draft, but return shortstop Danny Muno, whose home run in the WAC tournament last season was the decisive blow that ended Hawaii's season.

The Rainbows (16-12) begin conference play winners of nine of their last 12 games. A five-run rally in the bottom of the eighth on Sunday helped Hawaii beat Gonzaga 6-5 to take the series and enter conference play feeling good about itself.

“;It's perfect with Fresno, which is a good team, coming in. We need all the confidence we can get and that was a big win for our confidence,”; sophomore Kolten Wong said after spurring the comeback with a three-run homer, his third of the season.

Junior Josh Slaats rides a 20-inning home scoreless streak into tomorrow night's start. Zach Gallagher (3-1, 3.74) and Sam Spangler (2-3, 4.81) are expected to start Saturday's doubleheader, and Sunday's starter hasn't been determined.

The Rainbows will be without both Nate Klein and Matt Sisto. Sisto hurt his biceps in his start last week and Klein suffered a setback in Tuesday's bullpen session and has been ruled out for the weekend.

“;I was hoping (Klein) would be able to throw 45 pitches in (his bullpen session) and then be able to give us three, four, five innings on Sunday, but he felt pain and he's out,”; Trapasso said. “;I don't know what's going on with him.”;

The hottest team entering WAC play is New Mexico State, which has won 11 in a row. NMSU has the best overall record (22-10) of any WAC team, and was ranked No. 20 in the latest Collegiate Baseball poll.

Here's a look at the teams in order of their ranking in the preseason coaches poll (Ratings Percentage Index and Strength of Schedule numbers from warrennolan.com):

FRESNO STATE (17-12)

» Coach: Mike Batesole, eighth season
» RPI: 71
» SOS: 76
» WAC opener: at Hawaii, tomorrow through Sunday
» Key players: 1B Jordan Ribera, Jr. (.339, 12 HR, 31 RBIs); 2B Danny Muno, Jr. (.339, 31 runs, 5 SB); OF Dusty Robinson, So. (.312, 4 HR, 25 RBIs); RHP Matt Morse, Sr. (2-3, 4.85 ERA, 23 K); RHP Gene Escat, Jr. (3-0, 1.69 ERA, .236 BAA)
» Outlook: Until somebody knocks off the four-time defending WAC tournament champions, the Bulldogs will be the favorite. First baseman Ribera, who hit two game-winning home runs against New Mexico State in the WAC tournament last season, is tied for the WAC lead in home runs (12). Leadoff hitter Muno has 138 career walks and needs eight more to set a school record. FSU is second in the WAC in ERA (5.34) and has won eight of 10 heading into league play.

NEW MEXICO STATE (22-10)

» Coach: Rocky Ward, 11th season
» RPI: 87
» SOS: 156
» WAC opener: Nevada, tomorrow through Sunday
» Key players: 1B/DH Leo Aguirre, Sr. (.444, 15 2B, 32 RBI); 1B/DH Mike Sodders, Sr. (.358, 12 HR, 37 RBIs), C Ben Harty, Sr. (.422, 12 HR, 40 RBIs), OF Chace Perkins, Jr. (.393, 12 HR, 36 RBIs), SS Ryan Aguayo, Jr. (.433, 9 HR, 51 runs)
» Outlook: The Aggies have won 11 straight and are ranked No. 20 in this week's Collegiate Baseball poll. They lead the WAC in nearly every offensive category, including batting average (.368) and home runs (72). Three different Aggies are tied for the league lead in homers. Dan Reid (4-1, 5.92), Justin Cooper (2-0, 6.06) and Thomas Brendel (2-1, 6.48) start the majority of NMSU's games. NMSU ends WAC play a week early with trip to Hawaii.

HAWAII (16-12)

» Coach: Mike Trapasso, ninth season
» RPI: 46
» SOS: 37
» WAC opener: Fresno State, tomorrow through Sunday
» Key players: RHP Josh Slaats, Jr. (3-1, 1.03 ERA, 41 K, 35 IP); OF Collin Bennett, So. (.337, 3 HR, 21 RBIs); 2B Kolten Wong, So. (.337, 8 2B, 8 SB); SS Greg Garcia, Jr. (.314, 9 2B, 24 runs); RHP Lenny Linsky, So. (1.40 ERA, 6 SV, .276 BAA)
» Outlook: The Rainbows head into league play winners of nine of their last 12. Garcia has seen his batting average rise more than 100 points since a slow start to the season. Right-hander has already been named WAC pitcher of the week three times and hasn't allowed a run at home in his last 20 innings. Wong has been a terror on the base paths, stealing eight bases in 11 attempts. Closer Linsky has a league-leading six saves and Jesse Moore has three. Slaats (41) and lefty Sam Spangler (34) are second and third in the league in strikeouts.

LOUISIANA TECH (15-12)

» Coach: Wade Simoneaux, eighth season
» RPI: 140
» SOS: 149
» WAC opener: San Jose State, tomorrow through Sunday
» Key players: OF Devon Dageford, Sr. (.364, 6 HR, 22 RBIs); C Clint Ewing, Jr. (.359, 5 HR, 23 RBIs); 3B Mark Threlkeld, So. (.322, 7 2B, 30 runs); LHP Jamey Bradshaw, Sr. (2-0, 4.20, 44 K, 45 IP); RHP Josh Barrett, Jr. (3-1, 3.51, .254 BAA)
» Outlook: Like New Mexico State, LaTech is very good offensively. Questions are consistency in pitching staff and defensive problems. NMSU enters WAC play with a league-low .955 fielding percentage. The Bulldogs trail only Nevada in stolen bases. Dageford is a force in the middle of the lineup. Freshman right-hander Trevor Petersen was named the Louisiana Sports Writers Association pitcher of the week on March 30 after throwing 6 2/3 scoreless innings in a win over Minnesota.

SAN JOSE STATE (11-15)

» Coach: Sam Piraro, 23rd season
» RPI: 217
» SOS: 228
» WAC opener: at Louisiana Tech, tomorrow through Sunday
» Key players: RHP Blake McFarland (3-1, 2.20, 2 CG, 32 K); RHP Zack Jones (2-0, 3.18, 3 SV); OF Jason Martin, Jr. (.423, 7 2B, 18 runs); 3B/C Corey Valine, Sr. (.274, 2 HR, 15 RBIs); OF Alex Sofranac (.304, 7 2B, 17 runs)
» Outlook: The Spartans have hit nine home runs this season, less than half of the next lowest total (Hawaii, 23). Right-hander McFarland trails only Hawaii's Slaats with a 2.20 ERA and is tied for the league lead with 45 innings pitched. The Spartans had a seven-game losing streak from March 21 through April 3, but start league play after consecutive wins over Brigham Young and San Francisco.

NEVADA (15-11)

» Coach: Gary Powers, 28th season
» RPI: 141
» SOS: 171
» WAC opener: at New Mexico State, tomorrow through Sunday
» Key players: OF/LHP Brock Stassi, Jr. (.432, .790 SLG., 35 H); IF/OF Brian Barnett, Jr. (.305, 6 HR, 29 RBIs); 1B Shaun Kort, Sr. (.344, 13 2B, 27 RBIs); LHP Chris Garcia, Sr. (3-1, 2.54, 10 BB in 28 1/3 IP); RHP Jeremy Cole, Jr. (2-0, 2.38, 1 SHO, 2 SV, .216 BAA)
» Outlook: Coach Powers isn't afraid to let his team make noise on the base paths, as evidenced by a WAC-leading 40 stolen bases. Westley Moss has converted on 13 of 16 steal attempts and Kevin Rodland is 10-for-11. Junior outfielder Waylen Sing Chow, a 2007 Kamehameha graduate, has appeared in 11 games with one start, batting .200 (2-for-10) with two runs scored. Freshman Trent Soares (Kamehameha-Hawaii '09) has appeared in one game, allowing two hits and two runs.

SACRAMENTO STATE (11-15-1)

» Coach: John Smith, 32nd season
» RPI: 161
» SOS: 93

» WAC opener: Hawaii, April 16-18

» Key players: DH Trevor Paine, Jr. (.388, 5 HR, 18 RBIs); SS Kirby Young, Jr. (.274, 8 2B, 31 RBIs); 1B Josh Powers, Sr. (.327, 7 2B, 24 runs); RHP Jesse Darrah, So. (2-2, 4.03, 33K); RHP Brandon Creel, Fr. (2-0, 2.00, 1 SHO, .210 BAA)

» Outlook: Coach Smith announced before the season that this would be his 32nd and final year. The Hornets lost four players to the MLB First-Year Player Draft, including outfielder Tim Wheeler, who was the first Hornet ever to be taken in the first round (32nd overall to Colorado). The Hornets have a respectable .290 team batting average and 5.84 team ERA. StarterDarrah is a top-rotation guy with a 4.03 ERA in seven starts. Andrew Galvan has pitched the team's only shutout as Sac State tries to make a fourth straight WAC tournament.