The Iowa softball team will begin its 2013 spring campaign this weekend in Houston at the Hilton Houston Plaza Classic. The Hawkeyes will play five games in the Houston Cougar Softball Stadium.

Iowa will start play against Lipscomb today at 11:30 a.m. and play Texas State at 2 p.m. The Black and Gold will take on tournament host Houston at 4:30 p.m. Saturday before finishing the season-opening road trip with a two-game set against 11th-ranked Louisiana-Lafayette.

The two games against the Ragin’ Cajuns are scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. Feb. 10.

Iowa won’t play a game in Iowa City until March 22, when they will host Minnesota to open the Big Ten schedule.