The Northwestern softball team is taking its Spring Break early.

The Wildcats are heading to Tampa, Fla., this weekend to kick off their season in the Louisville Slugger Invitational.

NU, led by second-year coach Kate Drohan, will face Auburn, Sam Houston State, South Florida, Florida Atlantic and Arizona, last year’s NCAA runner-up.

Last year, NU finished 24-18-1, including a 10-9 Big Ten record that almost got them into the Big Ten Tournament. The Cats easily could have had a much better record — they lost eight games by one run.

The Cats are led by pitcher Lauren Schwendimann and shortstop Carri Leto.

Schwendimann, a 5-10 senior, is ranked third in NU history with 43 wins, 463 strikeouts, 51 complete games and 490.1 innings pitched.

Leto, a 5-foot-4 junior, hit .325 last year with 13 doubles, tying NU’s season record. She was a second-team All-Big Ten selection.

Senior outfielder Jessie Wellnitz leads the team on defense. She played 39 games without an error last year.

NU’s most difficult match-up of the weekend looks to be Arizona. The team had a 55-12 record last year and advanced to the final game of the NCAA Tournament before losing 6-0 to California.

The Cats might be lucky to play their first game against Auburn. NU has opened its season against Florida Atlantic each of the past three years, losing every time. And the year before, they opened with a loss to this weekend’s tournament host, South Florida.

The Cats next action might upset their romance lives. They travel to Tucson, Ariz. on Valentine’s Day to participate in the Arizona Pepsi Classic.

NU at Louisville Slugger Invitational

Friday-Sunday

Tampa, Fla.