MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – Lafayette opened its seven-game stint at The Spring Games with an 8-0 loss to Purdue on Friday morning.
 
Purdue scored single runs in the first two innings and led for the entire game. In the first, Rachel Becker's lead-off double led to the run. It could have been more for the Boilermakers, but Leopard catcher Grace Harvey cut down a would-be base stealer at second.
 
With two down in the top of the second, Kiara Dillon dropped a Jacqueline Cal pitch into shallow right field that scored a runner from third and gave Purdue a 2-0 advantage.
 
The Leopards put the lead-off batter on in the bottom of the second following Paige Sandidge's walk, but a double play quickly erased any threat.
 
Natasha Miner had the Leopards' only hit of the game in the third inning, a single to center field. Purdue pitcher Alex Echazarreta struck out eight Leopard batters to hold the Lafayette offense in check.
 
Purdue broke open the game with three runs in the fourth inning, two coming via a single by Becker.  
 
The Leopards are back at it on Saturday, playing LIU at 2 p.m. and Western Michigan at 7 p.m. (weather dependent).