It was the proverbial “waking a sleeping giant” in a Class 4A state tournament quarterfinal game Monday night on the Iowa Central Field.

Western Dubuque took a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first against Norwalk, only to watch the Warriors score 10 runs over the next two innings on the way to a 12-2 victory.

The win moves Norwalk, now 32-9, into a surprising semifinal game against 8th-seeded North Scott Wednesday at 1:30 back on the Iowa Central Field. North Scott ousted No. 1 seed North Polk by a final of 7-4 Monday.

Sophomore Nyah Hulbert got the Warriors started in the bottom of the first, belting a lead-off homerun to quickly tie the game at 1-all. Norwalk added three more in the first inning and broke things open with a six-run second inning to make it 10-1.

“It felt incredible,” said Hulbert, who now has five home runs on the season. “As soon as it came off the bat, it felt like a home run. I was so excited going around the bases. That’s a great feeling.”

Hulbert led an offensive barrage at the top of the Warriors’ lineup. She scored two runs, as did the No. 2, 3 and 5 hitters.

“That’s one of the best games we’ve swung the bats all year,” said Norwalk coach Beau Livingston. “I was hoping for four runs. We just want to go out and win each inning. After Nyah’s home run, I could definitely feel the momentum switching.”

Kaylee Cary led the offense with three hits, including a triple. She drove in two runs. Zadie Wadle had three hits as well. Hulbert finished with two hits, as did No. 3 hitter Maddie Gullion.

“When we got behind early, we knew one run wasn’t going to be enough to win,” said Livingston. “So we felt that wasn’t a big deal.”

Wadle and Olivia Dougherty both worked the circle for the Warriors. Wadle started and went three innings to get the win. She allowed both runs on six hits. Dougherty allowed just one hit over her two innings of work.

“We’re fortunate that we have two high quality pitchers,” said Livingston. “Most teams don’t have that.”

Kiya Steger plated both runs for Western Dubuque (29-10). She had an RBI groundout in the first and an RBI single in the third. Hannah Hoefer and Hailey Wulfekuhle each had two hits for the Bobcats, who will play North Polk in a consolation game today at 1:30 on Veterans’ Diamond.

Norwalk, one of six teams returning from last year’s 4A state tournament field, got its final two runs in the bottom of the fourth scoring on an RBI triple from Cary, who then scored on a wild pitch.

Dougherty then sat the Bobcats down in order in the top of the fifth.

Although North Scott’s win over North Polk looked like an upset on paper, Livingston said he wasn’t surprised by the result.

“North Scott is a quality program. They were third last year and didn’t graduate anyone,” he said. “I’m sure they are right where they expected to be. It’ll take another great effort from us.”

NORWALK 12, WESTERN DUBUQUE 2

Western Dubuque 101 00 — 2

Norwalk 460 2x — 12

LOB–Western Dubuque 5, Norwalk 4. 2B–Maddie Gullion. 3B–Kaylee Cary. HR–Nyah Hulbert. HBP–Jaylynn Brandt. SB–Kaylee Cary (2). WP–Kiya Steger (2), Hannah Hoefer (3), Baylee Neyen.