McCants, Helberg Lift Cougars Past Troy on Opening Day

Friday, February 11

Troy, Ala.

12:00 PM

College of Charleston

0-1

Southern Illinois

1-0

Charleston

Southern Illinois

McCants, Helberg Lift Cougars Past Troy on Opening Day

2/11/2022 6:28:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

SIU Box
Troy Box

TROY, ALA. – Powered by the right arm of Carli McCants and bat of Jenna Helberg, the College of Charleston gave Tracey Lynch her first collegiate head coaching victory with a 1-0 win over Troy on Friday at the Trojan Classic.

McCants tossed a three-hitter and struck out five, including the final outs of the sixth and seventh innings to keep the potential tying and winning runs at bay. Helberg provided the only run she would need with a solo homer to lead off the fourth.

McCants stranded the bases loaded in the first and a Trojan got to third in the second before the junior set down the next 10 Troy batters. She took a no-hitter into the sixth before giving up a pair of two-out hits.

In the Cougars' first game on Friday, Helberg hit a two-run homer in an 8-2 loss to Southern Illinois. Drayton Siegling pitched 5.1 innings of relief, allowing five hits and striking out six.

KEY COUGARS
• Carli McCants turned in her first career shutout and fifth complete game in the win over Troy.
• Jenna Helberg homered in both games and had a total of four hits and three RBI on the day.
• Drayton Siegling struck out six in 5.1 innings of relief against SIU.
• Noel Dominguez reached base four times in the two games with two hits, a walk and HBP.
• Payton Wade contributed an extra base hit with a double against Troy.

GAME NOTES
• Jenna Helberg doubled her career home run total on Friday. She had one each in 2019 and 2021.
• Drayton Siegling fell one shy of her career strikeout high. She fanned seven against UNF in 2020.
• Freshman Malaka Belser had her first career hit with a pinch hit single in the seventh against SIU.
• Charleston evened the all-time series with Troy at two wins each.
• Both SIU and Troy were NCAA Tournament participants a year ago.

UP NEXT
The Cougars remain in Alabama but head to Montgomery for the Stinger Classic on Saturday. Charleston faces Austin Peay at 11:30 a.m. and host Alabama State at 5:30 p.m.