Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Cassie Beadle of North Union crashes into Earlham Cora Boyle on Monday at Rogers Park. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Five months ago, Earlham Alli Boyle was told she had a torn ACL.

On Monday, the senior catcher helped the Cardinals reach the Class 2A semifinals with a 7-4 victory over North Union at Rogers Park.

Grace Porter, Emma Jensen, Cora Boyle, Katie Janssen, Alexis Voss and Allison Beatty each drove in a run for Earlham (33-9 overall), who will face top-ranked Wilton in the final four on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m.

Porter had two hits and Madeline Janssen earned the win, striking out four to improve to 23-4.

“It just feels great to be here,” Boyle said. “When they told me I had a torn ACL, I didn’t know what would happen next, so to be playing here at state, it just feels great.

“Our goal wasn’t just to make it, though, our goal is to win it.”

Earlham owns two state titles and a runner-up in its previous appearances. Boyle is one of three seniors planning to play college softball, as she will attend South Dakota State. Jensen is headed to Central and Janssen to Des Moines Area.

“It felt really good to get the lead early,” Porter said. “I think it helped our pitcher relax to pitch with the lead.”

The Cardinals scored four in the first to take an early advantage, adding two more in the fourth and another in the sixth.

“For me, I just tried to treat it like any other game,” said Porter, who also stole two bases. “If I don’t do that, I get too nervous.”

North Union (29-5), making its fifth appearance at state in the past decade, rallied, cutting the deficit to 4-2 in the third. Emily Meyer was 2-for-4 with three RBI, Naomi Jones drove in another run and Cassie Beadle had three hits. Jones and Sam Nielsen each had two hits.

The loss for the Warriors snapped a seven-game win streak which included a 7-1 victory over St. Edmond during the regular season.

North Union will play Pella Christian on Tuesday at 1 p.m. on Dodger Field in the consolation round.

EARLHAM 7, NORTH UNION 4

North Union 002 010 1 — 4 13 2

Earlham 400 201 x — 7 7 0

Emily Meyer (L, 29-5, 6 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 2 K, 3 BB) and Shelby Fraker; Madeline Janssen (W, 23-4, 7 IP, 13 H, 4 ER, 4 K, 1 BB) and Alli Boyle.

2B–NU: Emily Meyer, Sam Nielsen. RBI–E: Cora Boyle, Katie Janssen, Grace Porter, Alexis Voss, Allison Beatty, Emma Jensen; NU: Emily Meyer (3), Naomi Jones.