On paper, it was an even matchup. On the field… pure domination.

The Norwalk softball team looked right at home in their return to the State Tournament on Monday, defeating Western Dubuque 12-2 in a five-inning, Class 4A state quarterfinal at Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge. The game was heard live on 94.3 KNIA as well as kniakrls.com.

The fourth-seeded Warriors improved to 32-9 and will now face No. 8 seed North Scott (27-11) in the 4A semifinals Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. The fifth-seeded Bobcats closed their season at 29-10.

Western Dubuque jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but it took the Warriors just one at-bat to even the score. Nyah Hulbert’s fifth home run of the season – on a wicked line drive to center – ignited a frenzied Warrior hitting attack as they scored four runs in the first and added six more in the second to take a commanding 10-1 lead.

Hulbert, who swung-and-missed at the first two pitches offered by Bobcat ace pitcher Kiya Steger, credits her home run to a good two-strike approach. “I was looking for just a base hit, like I always am when I have two strikes,” she said. “The ball was kind of low and usually when I hit low balls it doesn’t go very far, but coming off the bat it felt amazing. Right as it came off my bat I just knew it was gone.”

Two batters later, Maddie Gullion ripped a double off the fence in right-center field. Zadie Wadle’s single drove in two runs and Kaylee Cary’s RBI single made it 4-1. The Norwalk bats stayed hot in the second inning as Gullion and Lauren Black hit consecutive two-run singles and two more runs scored on wild pitches.

The Warriors added two runs in the fourth, including Cary’s RBI triple. Wadle and Cary, the team’s only seniors, both went 3-for-3 with two RBI. Hulbert, Jaylynn Brandt, Gullion and courtesy runner Dani Peters all scored two runs.

Cary tells KNIA-KRLS Sports that the Warriors are out to prove themselves in Fort Dodge following last year’s state quarterfinal loss to Carlisle. “I think we really showed everyone who Norwalk softball is,” Cary said, “and we’re still hungry for more.”

Wadle pitched the first three innings for Norwalk, allowing six singles and two runs. Olivia Dougherty pitched two scoreless frames of relief. They combined for five strikeouts, walked just one batter and were supported by excellent Warrior defense.

Steger, who entered the day with a 1.50 earned run average, retired just three of the 12 batters she faced, allowing eight runs. Hannah Hoefer and Hailey Wulfekuhle both had two-hit games for the Bobcats.

Wednesday’s other 4A semifinal will feature No. 7 seed Winterset vs. No. 3 Fort Dodge.