FORT DODGE — Louisa-Muscatine High School softball coach Bryan Butler couldn’t have scripted a better start to the state tournament for his young team.

The Falcons jumped on West Monona for four runs in the first inning and rolled to a 5-2 victory in a Class 2A state quarterfinal game Tuesday at the Rogers Sports Complex.

Second-ranked Louisa-Muscatine (30-6) plays third-ranked West Lyon (29-1) at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday in a Class 2A state semifinal game.

For a young team — only four players had state tournament experience from 2022 — a four-run first inning was just was the doctor ordered.

“Scoring those runs in the first inning was something we hoped we could do. We knew getting on the board early was important,” Butler said. “I think that really helped the girls settle in. We were hoping to push a few more across, but we kind of shut down for a while. The girls played very well together.”

Kamryn Taylor, the lone senior, had the key hit in the first inning, a drive over the left fielder’s head .

Taylor went 1-for-2 and drove in three runs. Keely Williams went 2-for-2 and scored two runs. Hannah Kissell was 1-for-3 with a double. Lead-off hitter Grace Kissell was 1-for-3 and scored a run. Kiki Enriquez was 1-for-3 and drove in a run. Grace Hoopes had a single. Leighton McConnaha and Lexi Ramer each scored a run.

The Falcons had seven hits, while the Spartans were limited to four hits.

Louisa-Muscatine added a run in the fifth inning.

“We hit the ball well,” Butler said. “The girls played really good softball.”

Taylor picked up the win. In 5 1/3 innings, she allowed just one hit, walked one and struck out two.

Hoopes, an eighth grader, pitched the final 1 2/3 innings, yielding three hits and two earned runs, walking one and striking out one.

“Kam’s leadership today was so big for us,” Butler said. “She got on top of every batter. Their lead-off hitter and No. 2 hitter are legitimate big-time players. She kept them in the dugout and off the bases.

“Grace came in and did a good job. She was a little nervous, but she settled down and did what she needed to do. She has earned the right to pitch up here. She is going to be our No. 1 next year, so it’s important to get her some innings up here.”

Louisa-Muscatine is back in the state semifinals for the first time since 2021. The Falcons won a state championship in 2018 and now stand two wins away from matching that feat.

“I’m so excited for the kids. To come up here and win that first game is huge,” Butler said. “I told the girls half of the teams up here lose their first game. We won our first game and we’re moving on.”