ELMA — With the biggest hit of her brief high school career, Elma freshman Olivia Cain justified her coach’s hunch and set up an East County softball showdown.

Cain’s pinch-hit single drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning and the Eagles went on to top Hoquiam, 4-2, in an Evergreen 1A League softball game Thursday at the Ventron Complex.

The victory kept the Eagles (5-1, 7-1) in a virtual tie with Montesano for the league lead. The East County rivals will collide for the second time this season (Monte having won the first) next Tuesday at Montesano.

Hoquiam, which had upended Montesano earlier in the week, slipped to 4-3 in league and 4-5 for the season.

Settling down after shaky starts, Elma pitcher Quin Mikel and Hoquiam’s English Hyde were locked in a 2-2 standoff entering the sixth.

Hyde quickly disposed of the first two Eagles in that inning, but Kohlby Sayler doubled off the base of the fence in right-center.

Elma coach Roger Elliott then summoned the left-handed hitting Cain to bat for Mikel, normally a solid hitter.

After falling behind, Cain worked the count to 2-2 before lining a single into left field to score Sayler.

“Olivia’s got a nice level swing and (English) hadn’t faced many left-handers,” Elliott explained. “ And I knew Olivia could swing the bat.”

“It worked out,” the Eagle coach concluded with a shrug.

Taking second on the throw home, Cain plated an insurance run when Kali Rambo’s grounder was thrown away.

The Grizzlies put the potential tying run on base in the seventh when Ashley Paladin doubled with one out and Maya Jump beat out a two-out infield roller. But Mikel handled Jenna Doll’s liner back to the circle to end the ultra-quick (1-hour, 27-minute) affair.

Mikel, also a freshman, struck out seven and did not allow a walk.

All the previous scoring had been accomplished in the first two innings.

Following a two-out error, Kamimi Papp’s RBI double off the center-field fence in the top of the first gave the Grizzlies a short-lived lead.

The Eagles answered with two in their half of the first on Destry Dineen’s leadoff single, Peyton Elliott’s RBI double and a wild pitch.

Hoquiam’s Reylynn Dunn quickly tied it with a solo homer to left field in the second.

“We can’t seem to put two hits together in an inning. It’s been that way all year,” Grizzly coach Keith Reynvaan lamented. “We’re looking for answers at the plate.”

Although two of the game’s three errors figured in the scoring, both teams played very well defensively.

Elma center fielder Molly Johnston made a diving catch to rob Papp of extra bases in the sixth. Jump, at shortstop, and second baseman Paige Folkers made some fine stops for Hoquiam.

The Grizzlies host Castle Rock in a non-leaguer Wednesday.

Hoquiam 110 000 0 — 2 7 1

Elma 200 002 x — 4 7 2

Hyde and German; Mikel and Elliott.

RBI: Hoquiam — Papp, Dunn. Elma — Elliott, Cain. Two hits: Hoquiam — German. Elma — Velasco. Home runs: Hoquiam — Dunn. Doubles: Hoquiam — Papp, German, Paladin. Elma — Elliott, Sayler.

Winning pitcher — Mikel (walked none; struck out seven). Losing pitcher — Hyde (walked one; struck out five).