IOWA CITY, Iowa – A three-run home run from junior Chloe Miller gave the Wisconsin softball team the ammunition they needed to take the first game of the series from Iowa, 5-4, on Friday at Bob Pearl Field.

The Hawkeyes (11-27) staged a comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning, coming within one run of the Badgers (22-16-1) off of three hits. But senior Taylor-Paige Stewart was the story late in the game, keeping her composure through two nine-pitch at-bats and finishing off the last Iowa batter with a swinging strikeout.

"I think this team has had to dig deep in many games this season so we've been in that situation before," Stewart said. "I was able to not make anything bigger than it was and make each pitch. There's been a few games we've lost in that situation and I thought today I wanted to be on the other side and come out on top."

The two teams remained scoreless through the first two innings with both teams leaving a total of two runners on base but Miller led the way for the third-inning charge.

With sophomore Kelsey Jenkins on base from a hit by pitch and senior Ashley Van Zeeland on from a single to third base, Miller blasted a shot over the center field wall to give Wisconsin the 3-0 advantage.

"Getting the first win of the series is always big," Miller added. "It sets the tone that we are here to play. The home run was a bit unexpected, I was just going for something to move the runners over, but it felt ridiculously good crossing home plate today. I've played my fair share of games on Pearl Field in my past and so it was nice to get the W in front of some hometown family and friends."

Iowa responded in the bottom of the third off of a two-RBI single, cutting the Wisconsin lead to 3-2 off of three hits in the third. Wisconsin made a pitching change, bringing in Stewart who ended the inning with a pop up.

The Hawkeyes tied the game up 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth inning after a leadoff double and a single put two runners on the corners for Claire Fritsch, who grounded into a double play that ended the inning but not before Mallory Kilian was able to score.

UW took back its momentum in the top of the sixth when sophomore Samantha Arents, who holds the team's longest active hitting streak with 11 hits, singled to right center in the leadoff spot. With Brianna Flugaur in to pinch run for Arents, the Hawkeyes tried to catch her rounding to second but Flugaur's speed beat out the throw, allowing for senior Katie Christner to reach on a fielder's choice. With two runners on and no outs, freshman phenom Melanie Cross ripped a single up the middle to plate Flugaur and give UW a one-run lead.

Senior Macy Oswald followed up with a single of her own that loaded the bases for Jenkins, who reached on an RBI fielder's choice that scored Christner to clinch the fifth and final run for the Badgers.

Iowa outhit Wisconsin 10-8 as Iowa's Holly Hoffman, Angela Schmiederer and Katy Taylor each accounted for two hits apiece. Shayla Starkenburg took the loss and moved to 4-9 on the season after pitching 6.0 innings and giving up five runs and seven hits.

UW was led by Cross who had a game-high three hits and Miller who had a game-high three RBI.

Stewart earned her 12th win of the season after pitching 4.1 innings and allowing six hits and two runs in relief of Kirsten Stevens who pitched 2.2 innings and allowed four hits and two runs. Both pitchers had one walk while Stewart struck out three Hawkeyes.

Wisconsin looks to continue its three-game win streak tomorrow with another contest against Iowa at 2 p.m. CT.