League-leading Granite Falls had a scare from a determined bunch of Coupeville softball players in Monday’s Cascade League game.

Holding a 4-1 league record, the Tigers expected to have an easy time against the winless Wolves, but ended up having to scratch and claw their way to a 4-2 victory.

“If you took a look at their faces, you could see they are stunned,” Coupeville coach Jim Wheat told his players after the game.

Granite Falls scored a run in

the top of the second inning on a leadoff triple by Stephanie Brennan and a single by Jessica Jensen, but Coupeville’s Nikki Griffin mixed up her pitches and held most of the Tigers’ batters in check.

“They had a really hard time figuring Nikki out early in the game,” Wheat said. “We played well defensively behind her, which is something we haven’t done in a couple of games this year.”

The Tigers made the score 4-0 thanks to a bases-clearing triple by Brennan in the top of the fifth inning.

After that, it was time for the Wolves to mount a comeback.

In the bottom of the fifth, Kayla Lawson drew a one-out walk and Megan Smith followed with a single to put Coupeville runners on first and second.

With two out, Griffin drilled a double into the left-center gap to plate Lawson and Sarah Daher was hit with a pitch to load the bases before an infield pop out ended the inning.

The Wolves added their second run in the bottom of the seventh inning on a Smith single, an infield out and an RBI single by Griffin.

“We came back and didn’t quit fighting, we never quit fighting,” Wheat said. “The girls listened well and played hard. That was a team effort today.”

Coupeville out hit Granite Falls eight to seven in the game.

Griffin was three for four with a pair of RBI and Smith along with Kim Weatherford were both two for three for the Wolves.

Brennan was three for three for Granite Falls with a pair of triples and three RBI.

“After a couple of good poundings, the girls realized individually it was time to turn things around and they did,” Wheat said. “I’m a very proud coach today.”

Coupeville travels to Friday Harbor Thursday for a 4 p.m. non-league game.

“It’s always a great rivalry between us and Friday Harbor and they are one of the 1A clubs we will be seeing toward the end of the year,” Wheat said. “I’m looking forward to a good game.”

Granite Falls 4, Coupeville 2

Granite Falls 010 030 0 — 4 7 1

Coupeville 000 010 1 — 2 8 1

Ashley Millican and Stacey Todd; Nikki Griffin and Mandi Murdy. W — Millican. L — Griffin. 2B — Griffin (C). 3B — Stephanie Brennan 2 (GF). HR — none.