There may be more snow on the way, but the UMass Lowell softball and baseball teams will open the 2013 season this weekend: softball at the Catawba Tournament in Salisbury, N.C. and baseball with consecutive doubleheaders against Philadelphia University Sunday and Monday in Flemington, N.J.

The softball teams opens a full weekend Friday against Winston-Salem State (N.C.) at 2:00 and then meets Glenville State (W.V.) at 6:00. The River Hawks continue with a non-conference clash against Le Moyne Saturday (12:00) and Shippensburg (2:00); and meet East Stroudsburg Sunday (10:00) before wrapping up against Pfeiffer University (2:00) on Monday.

UMass Lowell, picked No. 1 in the Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division Preseason Poll, returns six starting field players and one starting pitcher from last year's squad which went 34-18 overall - matching the school record for wins - and 19-11 in the NE-10 (fifth place).

The UMass Lowell baseball team meeets Philadelphia for consecutive twin bills Sunday (11:00) and Monday (12:00). The River Hawks return 16 veterans and seven starters from the 2012 team which went 26-20 overall and 9-12 in the NE-10 Northeast Division (sixth).

Philadelphia returns 19 veterans from last year's team which went 11-33.