KALAMAZOO, Mich.- The Western Michigan softball team fell to Fort Wayne, 9-6, in the Broncos' home-opener Wednesday at Fran Ebert Field. The loss snapped an eight-game winning streak for the Broncos, which was the longest for the program since 2006.

WMU got off to a rough start, committing four errors which in part led to nine early runs by the Mastodons. Fort Wayne scored three runs in each of the first three innings. Maria Palmegiani hit a two-run homer in the first and Lacey Wilzbacher had a three-run home run in the third to lead Fort Wayne.

The Broncos trailed 3-1 after one inning, 6-3 after two frames and 9-3 after three innings of play. WMU closed out the game with three runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Junior pitcher Jordan Kurth was a bright spot for the Broncos. She entered the game in the top of the fourth and hurled four shutout innings, facing 14 batters and not allowing a hit. She struck out three and gave up just two walks.

Offensively, senior Aspen Williams went 3-for-4 at the plate with a single, a double, a triple and three RBIs. She drove in a run  with a two-out double in the first and brought two more runs in with a two-run triple down the right field line in the sixth.

Junior Brooke Wyman also batted 3-for-4 and drove in a run in the second. Junior Jenna Faultersack hit her first career home run with a solo shot in the second. Sophomore Mackenzie Swinehart collected two hits and scored two runs.

Freshman Sydney Stefanick (2-4) took the loss in the pitcher's circle, going one-third of an inning, yielding three runs on three hits in the start. Senior Anissa Sanchez was the first Bronco out of the bullpen before giving away to Kurth.

Western Michigan's record slipped to 13-11 overall while Fort Wayne improved to 10-16.

The Broncos are on the road for their next eight games, beginning with Notre Dame on Wednesday, March 21 at 5 p.m.