Unable to climb out of an early hole, the Coupeville High School softball team lost 8-1 at Bellevue Christian Thursday, May 12, in a non-league game.

The Wolves (8-10) topped the Vikings 17-16 March 23, and the two teams will meet a third time in the opening round of the district tournament at 6 p.m. Friday, May 20, at Tacoma’s Sprinker Fields.

Before heading to district, Coupeville plays one more regular season game, going to La Conner (5-11) at 4 p.m. Monday, May 16.

Bellevue Christian (10-6) used four walks and two errors to score four runs in the first inning, then combined two hits and a walk to add two runs in the second inning to take control early.

The Vikings final two runs came in the fourth.

“A hot day on the turf,” Coupeville coach Kevin McGranahan said. “We came out a bit flat and never really recovered.”

The Wolves, who had only two runners over the first three innings, scored in the top of the fourth. Katrina McGranahan drew a base on balls and eventually scored on an error.

BC pitcher Katie Pippel fanned 12.

McGranahan led the offense with two hits, and Lauren Rose and Veronica Crownover added singles.

Rose produced the defensive highlight, snagging a line drive and stepping on third base for an unassisted double play.

McGranahan pitched a complete game, her first since injuring her shoulder last month.

Coach McGranahan, Katrina’s father, said his daughter “showed a little rust but still managed to strike out nine. The walks tended to come back and bite us early on and a couple of those young team errors didn’t help either.”