The Gophers softball team will play in the Longhorn Invitational this weekend in Austin, Texas.

Minnesota (11-6), ranked No. 22 in the USA Today/NFCA poll, will play No. 9 Texas (18-3), the host team, three days in a row, starting at 1:30 p.m. Friday.

The Gophers, who have already played four top-10 teams this season, will also face Texas Southern (2-13) twice.

U to face '18 champs

The Gophers will play in the Seattle Baseball Showcase this weekend, opening with Oregon State, the defending College World Series champion, at 5 p.m. Friday.

Minnesota (2-8) lost to the Beavers 13-1 on Feb. 17 in an Arizona tournament. No. 4 Oregon State (10-1) leads the all-time series with Minnesota 8-3.

Etc.

• Hamline's Jason Verdugo was named a recipient of the 2018-19 Under Armour AD of the Year Award, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics announced. He is one of 28 recipients from seven divisions and one of four from Division III. He will receive his award June 11 in Orlando. Verdugo was named Hamline AD in 2012. The Pipers began a women's lacrosse program in 2016 and the team has advanced to the NCAA tournament two years in a row — a feat repeated by the women's hockey team this season. Verdugo spearheaded the Hamline baseball team's move to CHS Field and arranged for Tria Rink to be the home of Hamline hockey.

• Eight Gophers women's swimmers have qualified to compete at the NCAA Championships, which will take place March 20-23 in Austin, Texas. Five have earned individual berths: Chantal Nack in the 200- and 500-yard freestyles and 200 backstroke, Mackenzie Padington in the 200, 500 and 1,650 freestyles, Tevyn Waddell in 100 and 200 backstrokes and 100 butterfly, and Lindsey Kozelsky and Rachel Munson, both in the 100 and 200 breaststroke. The highest seed is Nack in the 500 freestyle. Four relays also qualified.