CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - On a picture perfect day to open Southern Conference play, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team won both games of the Saturday doubleheader, 11-0 and 5-3, in the Southern Rail Rivalry against Samford at Frost Stadium. Senior center fielder Lyndsey Stiles (Hixson, Tenn.) and freshman catcher Natalie Powers (Glenpool, Okla.) led the team at the plate with four hits and four runs batted in, respectively.

The two wins improved UTC's record to 15-5 overall and 2-0 in the Southern conference. Samford falls to 3-17 and 0-2 in conference play.

In the circle, senior Kandice Irwin (Knoxville, Tenn.) and junior Michelle Fuzzard (Huntington Beach, Calif.) picked up the victories on the day. They combined to throw 11 shutout innings, giving up four hits, one walk and striking out seven.

Powers recorded her first collegiate home run and triple in game one. Senior third baseman Tiffany Baker (East Ridge, Tenn.) showed off her strength as well with her team leading sixth home run of the season. It was the 38th career round tripper for the all-time Chattanooga leader.

The Lady Mocs are back in action on Sunday in the series finale against Samford. The first pitch is slated for 2 p.m. Live stats and video will be available for the game.

Game One: CHATTANOOGA 11, Samford 0

The Lady Mocs picked up their first conference victory of the year with an 11-0 victory in game one against Samford. Fuzzard pitched a complete game, one-hit shutout for the victory.

At the plate, Chattanooga had 10 players register a hit, including every starter. Fuzzard and Powers had multi-hit games with three and two, respectively. Baker and Powers both hit home runs, with the later being her first of her career.

Sophomore Kasey Tydingco (Fairfield, Calif.), Baker and Powers all drove in multiple runners. The trio brought in nine of Chattanooga's 11 runs, with Powers leading the group with four.

In the first, sophomore second baseman Sara Poteat (Thomaston, Ga.) got hit by a 2-1 pitch and advanced to second on a bloop single to center field by Fuzzard. Both scored on Tydingco's double that went over the center fielder to give the Lady Mocs a 2-0 lead.

After a walk to senior right fielder Della Harrison (Nashville, Tenn.) to put runners on first and second, junior shortstop Jessica Traxler (Chino Hills, Calif.) flied out to deep left field to end the inning.

The scoring continued in the second for Chattanooga with senior left fielder Lauren Flores (Fort Ogelthorpe, Ga.) getting on base with a one-hop double off the left field fence. Stiles drove Flores in with a single up the middle and advanced to second on the throw home.

Poteat doubled to right field that advanced Stiles to third. Fuzzard followed with a double thanks to miscommunication between Samford's second baseman and right fielder that allowed Poteat to move up to third and Stiles to score to give UTC a 4-0 lead.

Baker increased the Lady Mocs' advantage to 7-0 with a blast over the left field fence. After a Tydingco ground out, Harrison singled and advanced to second after a misplayed ball by the left fielder. Traxler followed with a walk after taking the count full.

Powers hit her first career triple on a misplayed fly ball that went over the head of the Bulldogs' right fielder. The triple also plated Harrison and Traxler to put the Lady Mocs up 9-0 after two innings.

In the top of the fourth, reserve freshman first baseman Stephanie Rieck (Chandler, Ariz.) made an outstanding diving catch in foul territory to get the first out of the inning and keep the shutout in tack.

In the bottom of the inning, reserve freshman outfielder Kaiti Dutton (Tulsa, Okla.) singled to left field, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. Traxler followed with a double to right center.

The next batter Powers connected with the first pitch she saw for a home run on a line shot that just cleared the left field fence increasing Chattanooga's lead to 11-0.

Samford picked up their only hit of the game from Amanda Jordan in the second inning. On the rubber, Kayla Burris started for the Bulldogs going 3.2 innings striking out two. Emily Waters came in to get the final out in the fourth with a strike out.

Game Two: CHATTANOOGA 5, Samford 3

The Lady Mocs came from behind to defeat rival Samford 5-3 as Flores drove in the game-winning run with a two-RBI double down the left field line in the six. Stiles and Poteat led the team at the plate with three and two hits, respectively.

On the rubber, Irwin pitched six shutout innings in relief to pick up the victory and improve to 5-1 on the year. The Knoxville, Tenn., native gave up three hits, struck out six and induced two inning-ending double plays. Senior Nikki Waters (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) started in the circle for the Lady Mocs. She lasted only one inning, giving up three runs on three hits while striking out one.

The Bulldogs got the scoring started in the top of the first with a run scoring on a fielding error by the shortstop trying to turn a double play. Samford scored again in the inning when Aaren Fisher's single up the middle platted Alex Adams to give Samford a 2-0 advantage.

The scoring continued for the Bulldogs in the second with Jordan leading off with a home run to left field that increased Samford's lead to 3-0.

Chattanooga threatened in the bottom of the inning with two outs when Harrison beat out a throw from the third baseman for an infield single. She followed it up by stealing second, her second stolen base of the year.

Junior catcher Vivian Morimoto (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and Traxler drew back-to-back walks to load the bases.

After having numerous opportunities, Chattanooga got on the scoreboard in the third starting with Stiles singling through the right side. Poteat followed with a single down the left field line to move Stiles into scoring position.

Following a popped up to the shortstop, Stiles stole third and Poteat advanced to second. Baker was hit by a 2-2 pitch to load the bases with one out.

Tydingco drove a 2-0 pitch to deep left center field that was caught on the warning track. Poteat and Stiles tagged up and advanced, with the later scoring on the sacrifice fly to cut Samford's lead to two, 3-1.

To lead off the fifth, Stiles doubled to left center field. Poteat singled down the left field line and advanced to second on the throw home to put two runners into scoring position.

Fuzzard drove a full count pitch to left center and the center field made a diving catch on to robbed her of a hit. Stiles tagged up to score on the play to decrease the deficit to one, 3-2.

In the sixth, after Harrison grounded out to leadoff, Morimoto drew a walk and Traxler singled down the left field line. Both runners advanced into scoring position after the second baseman couldn't handle the throw from the left fielder.

Flores doubled down the left field line to bring Morimoto and Traxler home to give Chattanooga its first lead of the game. A Stiles single up the middle plated Flores from second to give the Lady Mocs an insurance run and a 5-3 advantage.

For the final outs of the game, pinch hitter Nicole Bobrowski hit a ball back to Irwin and she tossed it to Traxler at second, who turned a double play.

At the plate, Fisher led Samford with two hits. Kayla Shaffer, Fisher and Jordan each drove in a run.

Robyn Harmon threw all six innings for the Bulldogs, surrendering eight hits, five runs and walks while striking out three.