By Seth Schwartz
Staff Writer

The Purdue softball team is spending its spring break in sunny Florida. The Boilers will be enjoying the sun on the field as they participate in two tournaments.

The first tournament, the Speedline Invitational, which started Thursday, is in Tampa, Fla., lasts until Sunday. The Boilermakers (8-9) lost Thursday to Connecticut, 3-1, and South Carolina, 2-1.

Leighann Burke was the losing pitcher and her record fell to 3-4. She gave up all three runs in the first inning and her ERA dropped to 3.32.

In the next game against No. 18 South Carolina, sophomore Meagan Dooley pitched her fourth complete game in the losing effort. Two unearned runs were given up by the Purdue defense in the second inning. Dooley did not give up any earned runs and her ERA improved to an incredible 0.34. Heidi Foster hit her first homerun of the season in the second inning, a solo shot. However, the team couldn't muster another run for the rest of the game.

The Boilers will attempt to resurrect themselves today against Maryland and Hofstra. The team will play No. 19 Illinois-Chicago on Saturday. The Boilers play two more games between Saturday and Sunday against teams to be determined.

"The Speedline Invitational is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the country, so we are proud to be a part of that," said Coach Carol Bruggeman. "We know the competition there is going to be stiff. We've got our work cut out for us in this tournament."

Next weekend, the Boilers participate in the Clearwater Tournament in Clearwater, Fla. There, they will play Southern Illinois, Seton Hall, Canisus and South Florida.

Bruggeman said that it will be the first appearance for the Boilers at the Clearwater Tournament.

"But we've seen a lot of teams that are in the tournament in the last couple of years, so I know that will be competitive as well," she said.

"Our goal is to take the same approach as we did in Santa Barbara to spring break and realize that it is a new month. We are starting over in a new tournament," said Bruggeman. "We've got to go out and work hard and hopefully good things will happen."

Dooley said the level of competition will be higher during spring break.

"Those other teams were good; These teams are great," said Dooley. (The Speedline Tournament) is my favorite from last year. A lot of teams from all over come to that tournament because it is spring break. The other tournaments we've played this year were mostly teams from that area. So the competition here should be better."