HEAD’S-UP PLAY — North Union runner Sam Nielsen (left) makes a head-first slide to the plate to beat a throw to Emmetsburg catcher Kourtney Kogel during Iowa Class 2A, Region 1 quarterfinal softball action Wednesday night in Swea City. (Photo by Greg Abel)

SWEA CITY — Opposing softball teams know the potency of both North Union’s batting order and Warrior ace pitcher Emily Meyer’s deliveries, but sometimes overlook the Iowa Class 2A No. 8 program’s steadfast defense.

North Union produced four defensive gems to back Meyer’s four-hit, four-inning complete game, while Olivia Von Bank belted a three-run home run to pace a 10-hit attack in eliminating the Emmetsburg E’Hawks, 13-1, during Region 1 quarterfinal action Wednesday night in Swea City.

North Union (27-4) advances to play host to Western Christian (11-13) in a 7 p.m. regional semifinal Friday night back in Swea City. Western Christian gained the next round via a 15-4 quarterfinal triumph over West Sioux (9-21).

Emmetsburg ended its season with a 10-14 record.

“We practiced on Saturday morning, and mainly worked on simulating high-pressure defensive situations in preparing for the playoffs,” said Warriors’ head coach Kim Price, whose team has committed only 33 errors in 31 games this summer. ” … Our overall goal is to get 21 outs, but we have to reach that number by focusing on getting one out at a time.”

With respective Nos. 1 and 2 batters Sam Nielsen and Cassie Beadle combining to reach base seven times to complement scoring six runs, the hard-throwing Meyer and defensive company ironically needed only 12 outs to exit the ballpark early via the 12-run rule after four frames.

Second baseman Vanessa Von Bank, however, displayed North Union’s sure-handed leather on defense by snaring a scorched line-drive off the bat of Macy McAllister for Emmetsburg’s second out of the top of the first.

After Meyer retired the E’Hawks in order, Naomi Jones and Maggie Engelby muscled up in the extra-base hitting category to help trigger the Warriors’ five-run outburst during the home half of the first.

Nielsen walked, Beadle bunted out a hit and Olivia Von Bank walked to jam the base paths for Meyer. Nielsen crossed the plate on Meyer’s RBI fielder’s choice before Beadle scored when Vanessa Von Bank’s grounder was thrown away at first base.

Vanessa Von Bank and courtesy runner Libby Stevens then circled the bases when Naomi Jones drilled a two-run triple to straight-away center for a 4-0 margin. The fleet-footed Jones then scored when Engelby hammered an RBI double off the left-field fence via the bounce.

Raegan Swanson then utilized her speed to convert a leadoff walk from Meyer into the E’Hawks’ only run of the game during the top of the second. Swanson swiped second base on a delayed steal, reached third on a wild pitch and crossed the plate on Presley Heinrichs’ RBI single.

Nielsen and Beadle helped North Union counter with two runs in the home half of the second. Nielsen drew the second of three walks on the game and wheeled to third when Beadle bunted her way on again. Nielsen scored on Olivia Von Bank’s RBI ground out before Beadle sped home on Meyer’s sacrifice fly to center for a 7-1 edge.

North Union right fielder Ella Ulrich then turned in a defensive gem by making a modified over-the-shoulder gliding catch in the corner before Meyer assisted her own cause by gloving a soft line-drive during a scoreless top of the third.

Olivia Von Bank then improved her Class 2A-leading RBI total to 65 when she clouted her ninth HR of the summer over the left-field fence during the home half of the third. Meyer then doubled before courtesy runner Stevens scored on Vanessa Von Bank’s RBI single to center for an 11-1 edge.

North Union first baseman Maggie Engelby then delivered the fourth and final defensive highlight by firing across the diamond to Beadle covering third to nail an Emmetsburg runner trying to take an extra base via Bayleigh Theesfeld’s infield hit in the fourth.

Ulrich and Beadle produced RBI singles during the last of the fourth to help the Warriors exit with a 12-run rule victory in hand. Beadle went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, Nielsen scored four times via three walks and a fielder’s choice, while Vanessa Von Bank went 2-for-3.

Meyer struck out three, walked two and allowed one earned run on four hits in four innings pitched to earn the win.

Heinrichs went 2-for-2 with the only RBI for the E’Hawks, while Brielle Madden added a double.

Emmetsburg starting pitcher Laney Montag allowed 13 runs on 10 hits, struck out two and walked six in 3 2/3 innings.

E’burg 010 0 — 1 4 2

No. Union 524 2 — 13 10 0

Winning run scored with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Laney Montag (LP) and Kourtney Kogel. Emily Meyer (WP) and Shelby Fraker.

LOB–North Union 5, Emmetsburg 3. 2B–Emily Meyer (NU), Maggie Engelby (NU) and Brielle Madden (E). 3B–Naomi Jones (NU). HR–Olivia Von Bank (NU) #9. SF–Emily Meyer (NU). SAC–Shelby Fraker (NU).