The only stat in favor of North Union on the scoreboard at Rogers Park here Tuesday was the most important one.

In a wild and crazy Class 2A quarterfinal, the second-ranked Warriors prevailed, 4-3 over No. 8 Louisa-Muscatine.

North Union (33-3 overall) faced No. 7 Wilton in the semifinals.

“We had more errors than we’ve had all year and less hits,” North Union head coach Kim Price said. “But we found a way to win the game and that’s all that matters.

“It means to much to advance to the semifinals for this program and school.”

Price knows a thing or two about coming up clutch at state, as she was a player on two Woodward-Granger teams that won it all. This is the first appearance in the final four for North Union as a program, as they have finished as high as sixth before.

Louisa-Muscatine had a chance in the sixth and seventh innings, but both times, the Warriors recorded key defensive plays, including picking a runner off at first to end the game.

In the sixth, North Union turned a double play after catching the Falcons in a rundown.

“I knew my defense would come up big behind me,” NU pitcher Emily Meyer said. “We just had to keep fighting and keep battling. I was confident we would get the outs when we needed them the most.”

Meyer struck out just four but worked around runners in scoring position in the second, fourth, fifth and seventh innings.

Libby Stevens had a key two-RBI single in the third that gave the Warriors a 4-0 lead. That came after Price connected on her seventh home run of the season in the first inning.

“I was disappointed in myself,” said Stevens, who committed four errors in the game. “But we just had to keep working hard and competing. I’m happy to get another shot to play better in the field because that’s not how I normally play.”

Price added “we just kept picking each other up and telling them to forget about anything that just happened. We had to focus on the next play and next opportunity.”

Cassie Beadle, Meyer, Maggie Engelby and Stevens each had a hit for the Warriors.

“It’s so exciting going to the semifinals,” Meyer said. “That was our goal after getting knocked out in the first round last year.”

For Louisa-Muscatine (25-9), they will now face Logan-Magnolia (28-1) in a consolation game on Veterans’ Field.

McKenzie Kissell and Piper Brant had two hits with Morgan Stecher and Hannah Kissell each driving in a run.

Brant also had six strikeouts and allowed just four hits with three walks.

NORTH UNION 4,

LOUISA-MUSCATINE 3

Louisa-Muscatine 000 110 1 — 3 9 0

North Union 103 000 x — 4 4 4

WP–Emily Meyer (32-3, 7 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 3 K, 1 BB). LP–Piper Brant (19-4, 6 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 6 K, 3 BB).

HR–NU: Emily Meyer. 2B–LM: McKenzie Kissell. RBI–LM: Hannah Kissell (2), Morgan Stecher; NU: Emily Meyer, Libby Stevens (2). SB–NU: Libby Stevens.