Roark flirts with 2nd no-hitter of season

With the weather resembling the middle of winter more than the second official day of spring, the IU softball team took the field Tuesday afternoon to face in-state rival Ball State.\nThe Hoosiers wasted no time getting started, scoring three runs in the bottom half of the first inning. Sophomore center fielder Kim Richards started things off by drawing a walk and moved to second on an Ashley Griffiths sacrifice bunt.\nFirst baseman Tory Yamaguchi knocked Richards to third, giving the Hoosiers two runners on base.\nWith a fierce wind blowing in from right, junior left fielder Lauren Hines came up and promptly smashed a three-run home run to right center field, giving the Hoosiers a 3-0 lead.\n"It was an inside pitch, and I just tried to stay relaxed," Hines said. "It's always more relaxing hitting at home."\nAfter struggling early in the season, Hines recently has come alive. She hit .500 for the weekend in the IU Classic and continued her hot hitting Tuesday, going two for three.\nThe second inning was an inning of firsts for the Hoosiers. Hines led off the inning with a triple, her first of the season and first for the team overall. After a Richards groundout, senior Griffiths crushed a home run over the left field fence -- her first of the season. \nGriffiths' home run gave IU a 5-0 lead that they would not give up.\n"It helps a ton when you go out and score five runs in the first two innings," IU coach Stacey Phillips said. "There's not as much pressure."\nThe Hoosiers tallied another run in the fifth on an Anna Olson RBI single.\nIU starter Megan Roark needed little support as she mowed down the Ball State lineup. Coming off of a perfect game Sunday, Roark was dominant once again Tuesday.\nShe carried a perfect game into the third until a passed ball gave Ball State its first runner of the game. Not letting the wild pitch bother her, Roark struck down the next three batters out in the order.\nRoark had a no-hitter going into the top of the sixth before Ball State shortstop Alyssa Huffman laid down a bunt, giving the Cardinals their first hit of the day. Pitcher Amanda Pick doubled to left, but Roark pitched out of the jam, stranding two runners in scoring position.\nIn the seventh, Roark struck out the side, giving her a complete game shutout with 13 strikeouts. The win boosted her overall record to 7-12.\n"We're happy with the win," Roark said. "Any tally in the win column helps the team."\nThis afternoon the Hoosiers will take a short bus trip to Terre Haute to face another in-state rival, Indiana State.\n"We were ready to play today," Phillips said. "If we come out tomorrow and play like we did today, we'll do fine."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Tim O'Brien at tpobrien@indiana.edu.