A four-run seventh inning came up one run short as the Coupeville High School baseball team fell 7-6 at Granite Falls Wednesday, March 31.

The Coupeville loss evened the three-game series at 1-1; the Wolves defeated the Tigers 16-3 Monday. Friday, April 2, the two teams finish the series in Coupeville at 4 p.m.

Coupeville is now 1-4 in Cascade Conference play and 3-4 overall. The Tigers are 2-6 and 2-7.

The Wolves scored in every inning in their romp over the Tigers Monday, but Wednesday they could tally in only one of the first six innings. The offense finally got revved up in the seventh, but it came up one run shy.

Granite Falls built a 7-2 lead thanks largely to Max Whitt’s grand slam in the fourth. Coupeville pitcher Ian Smith walked the loaded bases to set up Whitt’s big hit. Whitt also earned a save by taking the mound to get the final out and squelch the Wolves’ rally.

After giving up two runs in the first, Coupeville tied the game in the third when it picked up two unearned runs. Whitt’s blast and an unearned run in the sixth gave the Tigers a 7-2 cushion heading into the seventh.

An RBI single by JD Wilcox scored Chase Griffin to start the rally. Later Chad Brookhouse doubled in two more runs, then Sean Thurmond singled in Brookhouse. The rally fell short when Alex McClain lined out to short stop with runners at first and second.

The game’s turning point came in the fourth when Erik Wheat singled and Thurmond doubled with one out. Coach Willie Smith said two base-running mistakes ended the threat, gave Granite Falls “a ton of momentum and sucked the life out of us.”

Smith said, “It was one of those frustrating games where we did some good stuff (coming back from 7-2 deficit…) but also made more mental mistakes, both offensively and defensively. We came out flat and passive.”

Ian Smith and Thurmond both finished the game 2-for-4 with a double. Wheat was also 2-for-4, and Brookhouse finished 1-for-3 with a double and four RBI.

Smith pitched the first four innings and gave up four earned runs; Brookhouse threw no-hit ball over the final two innings and gave up an unearned run.