The University of Missouri pitching staff put an end to a couple good things for the SIUC softball team Wednesday night.

Missouri, ranked 18th nationally, snapped the Salukis’ six-game winning streak by sweeping a doubleheader in Edwardsville. Mustering only two runs for the day, SIUC had a recent scoring parade stopped as the Tigers won the first game 4-2 and the nightcap 2-0.

The Salukis (29-12-1) had been averaging more than seven runs per contest in their last six games, but ran into the sixth-best pitching team in the country. SIUC failed to produce against the Tiger hurlers when needed.

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Freshman center fielder Marta Viefhaus, who had sparked the Saluki offense lately, ended the night 1-for-7.

We struggled the first couple of innings in both games, SIUC coach Kay Brechtelsbauer said. When you play a team like Missouri, who is nationally ranked, you have to come out and fight, and we didn’t do that for half the game.

Both games had Missouri (33-18) jump out to early leads and leave the games in the hands of the mound. In game two, Missouri’s two-run first inning was more than enough for pitcher Tonya Winberry. She dominated the Saluki hitters, throwing a four-hit complete game while striking out six and not allowing a runner past second.

Sophomore pitcher Carisa Winters (14-7) pitched six scoreless innings for SIUC after the two-run first but failed to get any run support. Junior catcher Brooke Hattermann was the only Saluki to enjoy any success off Winberry, going 2-for-2.

Their pitching was very good, Brechtelsbauer said. I thought Tanya (Winberry) threw very hard and sharp. She was sharper than we expected.

The opening game belonged to Tiger freshman Stephanie Falk. Though not as dominating as her teammate, Falk cruised after her team opened a three-run lead in the second. She scattered eight hits and did not allow a run to score until the sixth inning.

The Tigers’ three runs in the decisive inning came off freshman pitcher Erin Stremsterfer (10-3). Rightfielder Nicky Smith singled home pinch runner Shayna Sharr to open the scoring for Missouri. Had it not been for a fielding error from sophomore shortstop Lori Greiner with two outs, the Salukis would have been down only one.

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Bur Greiner’s error after Tiger left fielder Wendy Harrison singled to the pitcher with two runners aboard allowed two more runs to score.

She (Greiner) just threw it in the dirt, basically, Brechtelsbauer said. But I’m not going to pick one play and call that the game. A combination of things, yes, but I’m not going to single out one play that cost of the game. We had a number of different mistakes.

Falk kept the Salukis at bay before faltering in the sixth. Sophomore second baseman Jamie Campbell and junior left fielder Jamie Cowell each had RBI singles to bring the Salukis within one at 3-2.

But the rally came up short after the Tigers added another run in the seventh, and Falk finished the Salukis by retiring the side for the victory.

Brechtelsbauer would have liked to see her team take at least one game from the Tigers to help improve the Salukis’ chances of making the NCAA Tournament. Last year, SIUC missed the postseason after finishing with a 41-16 record.

She said she hopes the two losses do not affect the team down the stretch.

I don’t want to take one doubleheader and use that for entire season, Brechtelsbauer said. We just weren’t as sharp as we needed to be against Missouri. If played like the way we are capable, and that’s with a lot of enthusiasm, that would have a different ballgame.

FACTOID:The Salukis will be off until Wednesday, when they face SIU-Edwardsville on the road in a make-up game. SIUC’s game with St. Louis University Tuesday has been canceled.