SACO – The Thornton Academy softball team mounted an early lead and rode it to a 9-6 victory over Biddeford on a rainy Monday afternoon.

The Trojans held a 6-0 edge after two innings, after they scored on singles by Olivia Howe and Madison Vachon in the first, and another pair of singles by Howe and Abby Miner in the second.

With a 6-0 deficit, some teams would glaze over and give up, but Biddeford played hard until the final out.

“It was a good game in crappy conditions,” said Thornton Academy head coach John Provost. “I think both teams played well. Biddeford didn’t quit, they just kept coming back and we scored enough runs to win.”

In the fourth, Biddeford rallied, scoring two runs. Hannah Gosselin knocked in Lexi Matteau and Chantelle Bouchard powered Jordina Coleman to home plate.

The Tigers put up another three runs in the sixth inning on RBIs by Bouchard, Chantel Perreault and Anna Lavigne to cut Thornton Academy’s lead to two runs, 8-6.

“I’m sad that we lost, but I’m happy the way that we played,” said Biddeford head coach Mike Fecteau. “I think if we can build off this game, playing one of the top teams in the league and competing to the final out, we got to be happy for down the road and the rest of the season.”

Howe put the game away for the Trojans in the sixth, when she knocked in Jenica Botting and produced the final 9-6 score.

Miner secured the win for the Trojans, surrendering six runs on 10 hits over seven innings, striking out six.

Matteau led Biddeford on the mound, going six innings and allowing nine runs on eight hits and striking out four.

“We feel very good,” said Fecteau. “I just told the girls, ‘(Thornton Academy) is probably one of the top teams in the league and we were a couple hits away from tying this game.’”

Thornton Academy improves to 2-0 while Biddeford drops to 1-1.

Howe is excited to start the season with a winning streak.

“It’s relieving to know we have a couple wins under our belt,” she said. “It feels good. I think we definitely could have played better today. We had the talent for it but under certain conditions like the weather – it’s tough.”

Thornton Academy travels to Bonny Eagle, while Biddeford hosts Westbrook today.

“I hope we play better than today and hopefully (we get) better weather,” joked Provost.

— Sports Writer Sienna Barstow can be reached atsbarstow@journaltribune.com or at 780-9018. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports