First-place Granite Falls scored twice late to slip by the scrappy Coupeville High School softball team 3-1 Tuesday, April 22, on the Wolves’ diamond.

The Tigers came to Coupeville with a 9-0 Cascade Conference record (9-1 overall) and probably didn’t expect much resistance for the three-win Wolves (3-7, 4-7).

Coupeville, however, didn’t back down. A play by pitcher McKayla Bailey represented the grit of the Wolves, co-coach David King said.

Bailey hustled to back up a base, scooped up an overthrow and made a head-first, diving attempt at tagging out a Tiger runner.

“With the play, it shows the fight and determination she and the team has,” King said. “If we continue to put everything out there to attempt to get an out like that, I couldn’t ask any more of these players.”

Two hits and a sacrifice fly led to a Granite Falls’ run in the first inning.

The Tigers added another in the fifth on two singles and an error, then another in the sixth on three hits.

Coupeville pushed a run across in the sixth when Madeline Roberts singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

The Wolves had other opportunities but couldn’t cash in.

Roberts led off the first with a hit and Hailey Hammer also singled, but the runners were stranded.

Madeline Strasburg singled in the fourth but nothing followed.

“This game shows we can compete with the better teams in our league,” King said. “What we can’t do is give the other team extra at bats and not getting the outs on plays we should be making. We also need to get better with getting our bunts down and protecting the plate with two strikes.

“We are getting better; we need to play consistent daily and it starts with how we practice.”

Coupeville heads down the island to face South Whidbey (2-10, 3-10) at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 24.