DECATUR, Ill. - Freshman designated hitter/relief pitcher Kaylee Learman (Greenwood, Wis.) went 3-for-4 with two home runs and five RBIs as the Carroll University softball team defeated Millikin University 6-5 in a nine-inning nail-biter to open a College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin doubleheader at Workman Family Field on Wednesday afternoon.
The extra-inning performance snapped a five-game conference losing streak for Carroll, which improved to 8-7 in the league standings and 22-16 overall.
As the game remained tied 5-5 with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, Learman hit a dramatic, game-winning walk-off solo home run to center field to abruptly end the marathon battle.
Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the first, Carroll responded with three runs on five hits to claim the lead, powered on a one-out three-run homer to center field by Learman.
The Pioneers, who amassed 10 hits, extended the lead to 4-2 in the second as senior right fielder Annika Graves (Muskego, Wis.) scored on a wild pitch.
Millikin, which finished with seven hits but stranded nine baserunners, followed with a single run in the fourth but the Pioneers added a run on an RBI single by Learman.
The Big Blue tied the game with two runs in the sixth to the game 5-5 and ultimately force extra innings, setting the stage for Learman's heroics.
Graves and sophomore third baseman Allyssa Demma (Orland Park, Ill.) each collected two hits for Carroll.
Learman, a right-hander, was also the winning pitcher, coming in relief of junior starter Amanda Osterhus (Munster, Ind.) in the fourth and allowing two earned runs on three hits with one strikeout and two walks through the final six innings.