Photo by Dru Wolfe Photography: Lydia Lara of Fort Dodge is greeted at home plate after hitting a two-run home run at Ankeny on Wednesday night.

ANKENY — The third-ranked Fort Dodge softball squad earned a crucial doubleheader sweep over No. 9 Ankeny on Wednesday night.

With the two victories the Dodgers keep pace in the CIML Iowa Conference race, with top-rated Waukee Northwest next on the horizon.

The Dodgers (27-5 overall, 16-3 in the league) routed the Hawks, 8-2 and 11-0 in five innings.

“We came amped up for this,” said FDSH head coach Andi Adams, who now has 699 wins with the Dodgers in her career. “This is a rough stretch, but we are pushing through and we are continuing to play Dodger softball.

“We have people doing their job and doing it well. Ankeny has been playing well. This was big.”

Senior Jalen Adams (15-3) picked up her 103rd career victory, tying Suzanne Stripling atop Fort Dodge’s career win list. Adams allowed five hits while striking out three, pushing that total to 807.

The Dodgers pounded out 13 hits in the contest. Maggie Elsbecker had a strong day out of the nine spot, going 3-for-4 with two RBI.

“Maggie had a tremendous night,” Adams said. “Maggie and Mariah played really well. Mariah looked strong again. Ankeny had a girl with 47 stolen bases, and they didn’t steal much and Mariah threw out two. She is very quick behind the plate and has been hitting the ball.

“Maggie’s defense was outstanding. For every single kid that someone tells you that you can’t do something, Maggie is an example that you can. We gave her the opportunity and never looked back.”

Adams, Bennett and Meah McCaleb all had two hits. Bennett had a double and drove in two runs, while Lydia Lara had a home run and two RBI.

Freshman Lucy Porter (12-2) tossed a three-hitter in the nightcap with five strikeouts as the Dodgers dominated the Hawks (25-10).

Fort Dodge pounded out 11 hits in the nightcap and placed the leadoff runner on in each of the first four innings. The Dodgers had three three-run innings.

Myers had a 3-for-4 effort with two doubles and two RBI. Haley Wills and Porter had two hits each.

Wills drove in two and Porter had three RBI. Lara had a double and an RBI.

Meah McCaleb had four stolen bases for the Dodgers.

The Dodgers travel to face the Wolves for the league crown on Thursday. First pitch at Waukee Northwest is set for 5 p.m.

FORT DODGE 8, ANKENY 2

Fort Dodge 040 001 3 –8 13 2

Ankeny 100 100 0 — 2 5 4

WP–Jalen Adams (15-3), 7IP, 5H, 2ER, 1BB, 3SO: LOB–Fort Dodge 9, Ankeny 5; 2B–FD: Tory Bennett; HR–FD: Lydia Lara; SACB–A: Eva Fulk, Ashtyn Billings; SB–A: Larissa Miller.

FORT DODGE 11, ANKENY 0

Fort Dodge 113 33 — 11 11 0

Ankeny 000 00 — 0 3 1

WP–Lucy Porter (12-2), 5IP, 3H, 0ER, 2BB, 5SO; LOB–Fort Dodge 7, Ankeny 4. 2B–FD: Mariah Myers (2), Lydia Lara; A: Kennedy Palmer; SACB–FD: Tory Bennett (2), Jalen Adams; SB–FD: Meah McCaleb (4); A: Eva Fulk, Mariah Patton.