MOBILE, Ala. -The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team used a balanced offensive effort that registered 24 hits in a doubleheader sweep of Ohio State (2-4), 11-7, and Evansville (0-2), 11-3, on the opening day of the South Alabama Mardi Gras Tournament. Sophomore first baseman Kasey Tydingco (Fairfield, Calif.) connected on a grand slam, her first collegiate home run, to break the game wide open against the Buckeyes in the second, while senior outfielder Della Harrison (Nashville, Tenn.) connected on two round trippers and classmate third baseman Tiffany Baker (East Ridge, Tenn.) added another against the Purple Aces.

In the circle, junior Michelle Fuzzard (Huntington Beach, Calif.) notched the victory against Ohio State, while senior Kandice Irwin (Knoxville, Tenn.) picked up the three inning save striking out six. Against the Purple Aces, Irwin continued her dominant performance throwing 3.2 innings of relief along with nine strikeouts.

Three players in Fuzzard, Harrison and Tydingco drove in five runs each during the doubleheader. Leading Chattanooga (4-3) with five hits was Baker, who connected on a three-run homer and a double.

The Lady Mocs continue the South Alabama Mardi Gras Tournament on Saturday at 4:45 p.m. (E.S.T.) against the Jaguars and UT Martin. Live stats and audio can be found on the softball schedule page.

Game One: Chattanooga 11, Ohio State 7

Chattanooga fell behind early in the first inning, but responded with 11-straight runs and went on to a 11-7 win against Ohio State. Tydingco helped to put the Lady Mocs on top for good with a grand slam over the fence in center.

Starting for the Lady Mocs was Fuzzard, who went four innings and struck out three. Irwin came in and stopped the Buckeyes rally by picking up her third save of the season, striking out six.

It was the first win over a team from the Big Ten since a 3-2 victory over Michigan State on March 17, 2006. The Lady Mocs improved to 2-0 all-time against the Buckeyes as they won 2-1 in 10 innings at Frost Stadium on March 25, 2002.

The scoring began in the first as Dee Dee Hillman led off the game singling through the right side. Following a walk, Megen Coretta doubled to left center putting the Buckeyes on top, 2-0.

A two-out rally began in the bottom of the frame as Fuzzard doubled into the gap in right center. Baker continued the threat by singling to left center.

On a 3-2 pitch, Tydingco hit a ball right back up the middle scoring Fuzzard and Baker held at third. An error by the shortstop off the bat of Harrison allowed Baker to knot the score at two.

Fuzzard settled down in the second and retired the side in order. A leadoff walk by Flores and an infield bunt single by Stiles, put the wheels in motion for a big inning. Poteat drew a walk to load the bases and Fuzzard put Chattanooga on top with another.

Following a fly out by Baker to shallow right center, Tydingco stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and connected on a 1-1 pitch over the fence in centerfield for a grand slam as Chattanooga took a 7-2 lead. It was the first collegiate round tripper for the Fairfield, Calif., native and provided the spark that the Lady Mocs offense needed.

The game would remain within five runs until the bottom of the fourth as Chattanooga would strike for four more. Fuzzard started it off with a hit by pitch that was followed by a single through the left side by Baker. Head coach Frank Reed went to his dug out for pinch runners with freshman Layne Rainey and Caroline Curran (Bradenton, Fla.), respectively.

With two runners in scoring position, Harrison hit a sacrifice fly to right driving in the first run of the inning, then freshman Natalie Powers (Glenpool, Okla.) singled to left center putting the Lady Mocs up 9-2. Flores followed it up with a single down the left field line scoring two more.

In the fifth, the Buckeyes struck for four leading off with a Julia Pecina single down the left field line, then Brittany Goodchild doubled to center. Clearing the bases was Hillman with a triple to right. Alicia Herron capped the start of the frame with a home run to left.

As Ohio State seemed poised to take back the momentum, Reed went to his bullpen and brought in Irwin, who got a ground out and fanned two batters to end the frame. The Knoxville, Tenn., native continued to keep the hitters off balance by striking out two in the sixth.

With one out in the top of the seventh, Herron and Evelyn Carrillo reached on an infield singles. Another infield single for Ohio State cut into the deficit at 11-7, but Irwin would record the final two strikeouts to earn the save.

Melanie Nichols and Kasie Kelley combined to pitch the contest for Ohio State as Nichols struck out one. Hillman, Herron and Coletta would each earn multiple hits against the Lady Mocs.

Game Two: Chattanooga 11, Evansville 3

The offense started strong for the Lady Mocs as they scored two quick runs, but Evansville fought back to take a 3-2 advantage. Chattanooga would go on to score nine-straight runs for the 11-3 victory at Jaguar Stadium.

Connecting on two home runs to left was Harrison and Baker added another as the two would combine for six RBI. Fuzzard drove in four runs to lead the Lady Mocs.

Junior Nikki Waters (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) started for Chattanooga and had a hard time getting into a rhythm as Irwin relieved her in the third. Irwin tossed the final 3.2 innings and compiled nine strikeouts, only yielding four hits.

Leading off for Chattanooga, junior Lyndsey Stiles (Hixson, Tenn.) shower her power once again with a triple to the fence in right. She scored on a single to right by sophomore Sara Poteat (Thomaston, Ga.). Following a groundout that allowed Poteat to take third, Baker drove her in with a single through the left side after a nine-pitch at bat.

Evansville led off with a single to first, stole second and eventually scored on back-to-back throwing mistakes by the Lady Mocs to cut into the lead, 2-1.

In the bottom of the third, the Purple Aces began the frame with a Betancur single to second and was thrown out by junior catcher Vivian Morimoto (Sao Paulo, Brazil) on a steal attempt. Gaertner singled to the shortstop in the hole towards third, then Perry hit a home run to straight-away center that provided Evansville with a 3-2 lead.

Coming into relieve Waters was Irwin, who struck out the final two hitters of the frame.

Chattanooga would not be behind for long as Harrison hit a towering home run that just cleared the fence next to the scoreboard in left center. It was the first homer of the season for Harrison.

Following a Morimoto walk, sophomore shortstop Jessica Traxler (Chino Hills, Calif.) and Flores singled within the infield to load the bases. With two outs, Fuzzard came to the plate and helped clear the bases as the third baseman threw the ball away up the right field line as Chattanooga took a 7-3 led.

Two strikeouts were added to Irwin's total in the fourth.

To start the fifth, Tydingco singled to second and Harrison jumped all over the first pitch with a shot over the fence in left center. The Purple Aces would end the frame and Irwin went back to work striking out two more opponents.

In the sixth, Stiles opened with a bunt single to first and Poteat walked. Fuzzard drove Stiles in with a sacrifice fly to right and Baker would cap the Chattanooga scoring by drilling the first pitch she saw over the fence. It was the first home run of the season for the Lady Mocs all-time home run leader, who now has 33.

In the circle, Little and Perry were the pitchers for Evansville and Villanueva paced the team with two hits, while seven other Purple Aces added hits.