KENOSHA, Wis. - Freshman starting pitcher/first baseman Kaylee Learman (Greenwood, Wis.) went 2-for-2 with two solo home runs but it wasn't enough as the Carroll University softball team lost to fierce, in-state rival Carthage College 4-3 in the finale of a College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin doubleheader Tuesday afternoon.
It was the third consecutive conference loss for Carroll, which dropped to 7-5 in the highly contested league standings and 21-14 overall with two doubleheaders remaining on the regular-season schedule.
Carthage, which improved to 8-4 in conference and 20-8 overall with the twin-bill sweep, scored the first run of the game in the top of the second inning on an RBI sacrifice fly to right field by junior third baseman Brooke Sefcik.
Learman hit a solo home run to right field - the first of her collegiate career - in the bottom of the second to tie the game.
The Lady Red, who finished with eight hits, regained a 2-1 lead in the fourth on an RBI single to left field by Sefcik.
Learman followed with a solo shot to left field in the fourth for the Pioneers, who stranded six baserunners and committed two errors.
As the game remained tied 2-2 after four complete innings, Carthage responded with two runs in what became a decisive fifth as senior catcher Alexandra Millett scored as the result of an error and junior first baseman Ellie Bernero delivered the eventual winning RBI single.
Freshman first baseman/left fielder Katelyn Schneider (Sussex, Wis.) added a solo homer in the seventh for Carroll. Freshman center fielder Sierra Grubor went 3-for-4 to lead a six-hit offensive attack for the Pioneers.
Junior right-hander Stefanie Guercio was the winning pitcher, allowing two earned runs on three hits with seven strikeouts and one walk in working the final four innings.
Learman, a right-hander, yielded three earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts and four walks through 4 1/3 innings.