—Photo by Ross Thede/Marshalltown Times Republican FORT DODGE’S ASHLYN WILLS slides into homeplate against Marshalltown on Thursday night in Marshalltown.

MARSHALLTOWN — It was business as usual for the fourth-ranked (Class 4A) Fort Dodge softball team here Thursday night.

Behind big innings at the plate and dominating pitching, the Dodgers swept Iowa Alliance Conference rival Marshalltown.

Scores were 13-0 in four innings and 16-0 in three as FDSH improved to 39-4 over the last 14 years vs. the Bobcats. They have not lost to Marshalltown since 2012.

Lucy Porter fired a four-inning no-hitter, striking out seven with one walk allowed in the opener. She was backed by a three-hit, three-RBI performance from Maggie Elsbecker, as Fort Dodge (11-3 overall, 4-0 in league) scored four in the first and five more in the second.

Meah McCaleb scored three times and drove in a run, while Hope Alstott, Lydia Lara and Ellie Doster each had an RBI. Ashlyn Willis was 2-for-2 with a walk and three runs scored, and both Alstott and Cadence Touney scored twice.

“It was good to see us come out and handle our business,” FDSH head coach Andi Adams said. “We put pressure on the defense and our pitchers were doing a great job. Behind them, the defense made plays when they needed to and we were able to pick up two nice road wins.”

McCaleb and Wills led the charge on the bases, stealing four each with Alstott swiping three and Elsbecker two. The Dodgers stole 16 bases as a team.

Back-to-back innings of seven runs each ended the nightcap early with Elsbecker driving in four and Touney three. Mackenzie McIlrath was 2-for-2 with a double, two runs scored and a walk, while McCaleb scored three times and stole two more bases.

Touney and Alstott each stole two bases with Alstott also coming across home twice. Wills added two runs scored as Lara tossed a two-hitter with three strikeouts.

“All of these challenges we face have been put before us to prepare us for the end of the season,” Adams said. “We are constantly challenging these girls in practice and during games to get better, and they are delivering.”

Fort Dodge returns to action on Friday when they host No. 3 (5A) and defending state champion Waukee Northwest at Rogers Park. The Wolves lost to third-ranked (4A) Dallas Center-Grimes Thursday, 6-4.