WINDHAM — Heading into her softball game Wednesday against Gorham, Olivia Mora of Windham planned to be more selective than usual at the plate.

Wrong move.

After a first-inning strikeout, Mora turned aggressive and it paid off. She hit two home runs and knocked in five runs to lead the Eagles to a 5-2 victory.

“I’m not really a patient hitter and in my first at-bat, I was trying to be more patient and it didn’t really work for me,” Mora said. “I adjusted in my second at-bat and was just fired up. I saw it over the middle on the first pitch and decided to just let it fly.”

That second at-bat came with two runners on during a scoreless game in the third. On the first pitch, Mora unloaded a towering home run deep to center.

“Olivia Mora is just a phenomenal softball player and today she put on a show,” said Windham Coach Travis Demmons. “A lot of people aren’t aware of her but by the end of the year they will be.”

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Mora followed with a two-run opposite-field shot to right in the fifth – her fifth homer of the season and 10th in her high school career. It was the first time she connected for two in a game.

“They’ve got a lot of great hitters over there,” said Gorham Coach Renee Thibodeau. “We know it’s tough when they’ve got girls on and someone like that steps up to the plate.”

Mora’s two homers provided more than enough support for pitcher Danielle Tardiff, who struck out 11, scattered four hits and surrendered one earned run for Windham (10-1).

The Rams’ run came in the fourth, immediately after Tardiff was hit in the ankle with a pitch in the bottom of the third.

“She showed a lot of grit today,” said Demmons. “She got hit by that pitch, and every inning had to come in here and ice her ankle. I told her that today she showed more fight and grit than she’s probably ever shown in the circle.”

Added Mora: “Danielle always pulls through for us. She’s so resilient and she’s just a really great pitcher.”

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Windhamn leadoff hitter Katelyn Troiano went 2 for 4 with a double and scored on both of Mora’s homers. Alex Morang also scored for Windham.

Shayla Harris had two hits, including a double, and Grace McGouldrick added a triple for the Rams (5-7).

Noelle Dibiase scored and drove in a run for Gorham, and Carli Labrecque added an RBI and McGouldrick also scored.

McGouldrick and Lindsey Wilcox each pitched three innings for Gorham, both allowing two earned runs. They combined for seven strikeouts.

“There was never any let-up from our girls, and we came back in the fourth,” said Thibodeau.

“Moving toward the playoffs, that’s what you like to see.”


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