Minnesota’s softball team opens its season this weekend with the Tiger Invitational in Auburn, Ala.

The Gophers will play Evansville and Auburn on Friday, Centenary and Miami of Ohio on Saturday and North Carolina State on Sunday.

Minnesota went 25-27 last season and missed the Big Ten tournament for the first time in five years. The Gophers return junior catcher Megan Higginbotham, first-team All-Big Ten last season.

South Atlantic road trip

Minnesota’s men’s tennis team goes on the road for two dual meets in North Carolina this weekend.

The Gophers will compete against Wake Forest in Winston Salem, N.C., on Saturday and travel to Richmond, Va., on Sunday for a dual with Virginia Commonwealth.