The Gorham High softball team’s experience and veteran leadership will be a major asset as the Rams look to make a run at the Western Maine Class A title this season.

Yet with a starting lineup dominated by seniors and juniors, it was the lone sophomore that broke an early tie and sparked Gorham to a 9-1 victory over visiting Windham in Friday’s SMAA clash.

Alyssa Clark cranked a two-out solo homer over the right side of the Robie Field fence to put the Rams up 2-1 in the second inning. They never looked back, as senior ace Kelsey Crowe settled in on the mound.

Gorham, 13-3 in the regular season a year ago, broke the game wide open with a seven-run fifth inning when it sent 12 batters to the plate. Crowe said it was Clark’s homer gave the Rams’ bats a lift.

“I think the home run got us a little excited,” said Crowe, who struck out nine and allowed just two hits after the first inning.

Gorham coach Pete Walker also appreciated the production out of the No. 8 spot in the lineup. It was Clark’s first career home run, though Walker knew she had long-ball potential.

“She’s hit some really hard line drives,” Walker said. “She hit a couple of foul home runs the other day against Westbrook. She’s got the power. She’s only a sophomore. She does a nice job. She stays right on target with the ball.”

Windham, which finished 1-15 last season, took the early lead, as Katie Cook walked to lead off the game. She stole second and advanced to third on Helen Libby’s sacrifice. With two outs, Riley Graves knocked Cook in with a single. Deanna Jones followed with a double, with Graves holding up at third. Crowe induced a popup to escape further damage.

“Windham scores a lot of runs,” Walker said. “They can swing the bat. I think that caught Kelsey a little bit by surprise in the first inning because they came out swinging. Offensively, they do a lot of nice things.”

Gorham tied the score in the bottom of the first on Rachel Fogarty’s RBI triple, which plated Annie Mitchell, who had reached on a bunt single.

After Clark gave Gorham the lead, Windham pitcher Robin Bott (nine strikeouts) kept the Rams at bay until the fifth, retiring nine of 10 batters. Then the Gorham barrage began.

Lauren Chouinard, Mitchell, Fogarty (RBI), Lauren Fleury (two RBIs) and Alyssa Clark (RBI) all singled. Crowe and Chelsea Clark added RBI doubles.

“We finally started hitting those hard line-drive shots,” Walker said. “It seemed like one key hit was what we needed. We got the hit that opened up the gates and said, ‘Alright, we’ve got to keep going with it.'”

Liz Silvius tripled to lead off the top of the seventh for Windham. Libby had an infield single in the third inning.

Gorham improved to 4-1 with a 1-0 win over Noble on Monday. Windham dropped to 1-3 on Monday, falling to Massabesic 15-14.