Weekend leaves IU winless in Big Ten play

In game one against the No. 24 Hawkeyes Sunday, IU only stranded one runner on base. The problem is, the Hoosiers only put one runner on base as Iowa sophomore Lisa Birocci pitched a no hitter, walking one batter before the mercy rule went into effect after six innings with Iowa on top 8-0. \nBirocci baffled IU hitters all day long in the midst of her first career no-hitter, improving her record to a jaw-dropping 18-6. She struck out five of the first six batters and retired the first 14 she faced, but gave up a two-out walk to senior Katie Joy in the top of the fifth. \nThe Hawkeyes scored all they needed in the first with three runs in the frame and added three more in the fourth and one in the fifth and sixth en route to an 8-0 shutout in game one of the twin bill. The loss was the 11th for the Hoosiers in 11 conference games this season while extending their Big Ten losing streak to 31 games. \nJunior Heather Stillians dropped her record to 7-13 on the season as she pitched five innings, allowing 11 hits and seven earned runs. Freshman Megan Roark pitched a brief third of an innings giving up three hits and one earned run. \nIn game two, IU's bats did not wake up, but did show signs of consciousness as they recorded four hits but extended their Big Ten losing streak to 32 as they fell by the final of 9-0.\nSophomore Katie Witham pitched well through five innings, but stumbled in the sixth as she gave up four runs and was only able to retire one Hawkeye batter before giving way to Roark. Junior Valerie White had two of IU's four hits, while junior Abby Stark and Stillians had the other two. \nSunday's losses kept IU in sole position of last place with an 0-12 Big Ten record. \nOn Saturday, IU beat visiting MAC opponent Ball State 5-2 in game two of a doubleheader, earning a split and improving their overall record to 16-24. \nSenior Stormy Hanson left her mark on the scoreboard, literally, as her first inning bomb to left-center caused a dent in the new softball scoreboard. The round-tripper was Hanson's 11th of the season and second of the day. Freshman Lauren Hines added an insurance run in the fourth with her towering solo blast to right, giving IU a 5-2 lead which they would hang on to for the victory. \n"I just go up there and try to get a hit," Hanson said. "That is how I approach every at-bat, I am selective by waiting for the best pitch."\nWitham earned her sixth victory scattering seven hits and allowing two earned runs in six innings.\nRoark kept the game intact as she threw one scoreless inning, walking one before being removed for Witham's re-entry. \n"I just do what I can," Roark said. "I try and give our defense a chance and do whatever is best for the team."\nIn game one, IU held the Cardinals scoreless for the final five innings, but unfortunately, Ball State scored all they needed in the first two frames with one in the first and two in the second on pace to a 3-1 victory. Freshman Quincy Duran went the distance for her sixth win of the year, allowing five hits and one earned run. \nStillians also pitched the full seven but the lack of support plagued her once again as she dropped her 14th game of the season. She gave up only one earned run, as junior Kristine Dugan fired a throw from third into centerfield, allowing two runs to score. IU's lone run came off the mighty bat of Hanson as she sent a rocket into left center in the sixth. \nIU ended the weekend with a 16-25 overall record heading into Tuesday's non-conference tilt with Evansville. \n"We are looking for results for the kids and for them to play hard," coach Sara Hayes said after the Ball State games. "We are playing hard and some good things are happening"