The Coupeville Legion A baseball team won its third straight game by nipping Bellingham South 4-2 Monday, June 18, at Robert Sherman Field.

A strong relief performance by Wade Schaef backed by a steady defense and an aggressive offense helped the Merchants even their records to 3-3 in league and 5-5 overall.

Schaef took over for starter Jake Tumblin in the second inning and yielded just one unearned run and four hits over the final six innings.

After South picked up a run in the top of the first, Coupeville scored two in its half. Kurtis Smith got on on an error, stole second and scored when the throw on his steal of third sailed into left field. Aaron Curtin followed with a double and scored on Morgan Payne’s single.

In the third, the Merchants tacked on two more runs. Josh Bayne reached on an error, stole second and scored on Tumblin’s hit. Tumblin swiped second and third, as Coupeville went a perfect 6-for-6 in stealing attempts, and scored on Payne’s base hit.

Payne finished 2-for-3 with two RBI, and Curtin added two doubles.

Coupeville goes to Mount Vernon Tuesday, May 19, for a 4:30 p.m. double header at Sherman Anderson Field, has a rematch at Bellingham South at 6 p.m. Wednesday and then hosts Bellingham North for two games beginning at 4:30 p.m. Friday.