SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Western Michigan scored two runs off the bat of Tara Buchanan in the top of the first inning and tacked on another in the second to defeat Notre Dame, 3-2, at Melissa Cook Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The win, WMU’s first over the Irish since 2004, snaps the fifth longest home win streak in the country at 21 games.

Heading into Tuesday’s match up Notre Dame had allowed just one run in the first inning through its previous 23 games this season.  With Lexi Jager on first base after being hit by a pitch, Buchanan changed all of that with one swing of the bat. Facing a 2-1 count the freshman launched her second collegiate home run over the left field fence and the bleachers that are behind it.

Jager tacked on the Broncos’ third and final run in the top of the second with third double of the season, scoring Christina Pigozzi who was also hit by a pitch.  Jager and Meredith Whitney, who collected a base hit through the left side were stranded to end the inning.

Notre Dame replaced starting pitcher Jody Valdivia with Brittany O’Donnell with two outs in the second. O’Donnell proceeded to strike out the next four batters she faced before walking a pair in the fourth.

The Irish scored their two runs of the night off the long ball as well. Alexa Maldonado collected one of her three hits to lead off the third, advancing to second on a wild pitch. Katie Fleury grounded out and Heather Johnson followed by taking the first pitch she saw over the center field wall with a line drive shot.

Kayla Houston worked her magic the rest of the way, not allowing another Notre Dame run despite the fact that the Irish stranded two base runners in each of the fifth and sixth innings. She shut down the home team in th seventh, recording a foul out, fly out and ground out to secure the win.

The victory is the first for WMU over Notre Dame since April 1, 2004 (2-0) and the first at Melissa Cook Stadium since April 7, 1999 (2-1).  The Irish’s last loss to any one at home came on May 3, 2009, 6-5, to Louisville.

Western Michigan opens Mid-American Conference play on Friday with its home-opening series against Central Michigan. The doubleheader is set to start at 1 p.m.