Scoring early and often, the Coupeville High School baseball team slugged visiting Sultan 12-4 Monday, March 27.

The Wolves scored at least three runs in each of the first three innings to take control of the contest.

While the Coupeville bats were producing runs, pitcher Dane Lucero blanked the Turks in six of the seven innings.

Lucero’s one hiccup came in the fourth inning. The sophomore right hander took a no hitter into the frame, but the Turks (1-3) combined an error, two walks and two hits to pick up four runs, two unearned.

From that point, Lucero settled back in and shut out Sultan on two hits the rest of the way.

“Dane had a great game,” coach Marc Aparicio said. “He was awesome.”

Coupeville jumped on the Turks for four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Singles by Joey Lippo and Clay Reilly and a walk to Lucero loaded the bases. With two outs, Ethan Marks walked on a full count to force in one run, then Kory Score cleared the bases with a three-run double.

In the second, Coupeville tacked on three more runs. Hunter Smith doubled and Lippo reached on an error. Consecutive singles by Reilly, Lucero and Jake Hoagland produced the three runs.

The Wolves played add-on in the third with four runs. With two outs and no one on, Smith got things started with a base hit, and Lippo followed with single. Smith scored on a wild pitch and Reilly walked. Lucero drove in one run and Hoagland doubled in two more.

Coupeville’s final run came in the sixth. Marks reached on an error, stole second and scored on Nick Etzell’s single.

Lippo finished 3-for-4 with three runs, Lucero was 3-for-3 with two RBI, Hoagland was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI and Reilly ended 2-for-3 with three runs.

“Great defense, great hitting,” Aparicio said. “They guys are killing it.”

The Wolves tallied 14 hits.

The win was the Wolves fourth straight after opening the season with two losses. Coupeville begins conference play at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 29, when Klahowya (1-3) visits Robert Sherman Field.