BIDDEFORD — The Thornton Academy softball team cruised to a season-opening 15-0 win over Biddeford on Saturday in a game stopped after four innings because of the mercy rule.

The Golden Trojans put 21 runners on base in the shortened game. Thornton pitcher Louisa Colucci was impressive, allowing just one hit while striking out six.

“It was a nice complete game. Offensively we were fine, defensively we didn’t have to make too many plays. Louisa was on,” said Thornton Coach John Provost. “She’s big for what we’re going to want to do. We’ve got a couple kids who can throw, but if Louisa continues to throw like that we’ll be fine.”

Colucci, who also went 1 for 1 with an RBI and three walks, was excited to get the opening-day win and said that she’s peaking as a player entering her senior season.

“It’s going to help our confidence a lot. There’s a lot of good competition (in the conference) and I feel that we can hold our own against them. We have a really good team this year,” said Colucci.

“I feel like I’m seeing the ball better, and (while) pitching I feel renewed. It’s very nice having (good hitters) because I know that they’ll have my back even if we make an error in the field.”

Thornton jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Colucci and Jenica Botting each hit an RBI double, and Olivia Paradis added an RBI single. Amanda Bogardus drove in a run with a groundout.

The Trojans continued to pour it on in the third inning, doubling their lead as Paradis, Sarah Casey, Madi Vachon and Kaitlin Verreault each drove in a run.

“We have the ability, 1 to 9 (in the lineup), to hit. We scored runs early and it’s contagious. The girls up front hit and everyone just follows,” said Provost.

Thornton’s biggest inning was the fourth when it scored seven runs. Botting hit a bases-clearing double, and Bogardus and Olivia Howe each collected an RBI. Two runs scored on bases-loaded walks.

“We expected that – that’s why they’re one of the top teams in our league and in the state,” Biddeford Coach Mike Fecteau said of Thornton’s offense.

“They’re a hitting machine; you can’t give them more than three outs. We had plays where we didn’t get the ground ball, the fly ball, (and) you can’t give that team extra outs because, 1 to 9, they can hit the ball.

“It was a wake-up call.”

Olivia Whittaker produced Biddeford’s only hit – a single in the third inning.

Fecteau believes the Tigers (1-1) can learn from the lopsided defeat.

“Confidence-wise, it’s going to help out … seeing what a great softball team is like and competing against,” said Fecteau. “We just need to get better making the plays. We’ll build on this game; there were some good things that happened.”