WATERLOO — The Fort Dodge baseball team was forced to settle for a split here Thursday night vs. Waterloo East.

After taking the opener, 7-0, the Dodgers dropped the nightcap, 9-7.

Freshman Will McElroy earned the win on the mound, allowing just three hits over five innings with four strikeouts. Royce Pederson drove in two runs with Tru McBride and Jaxson Dencklau each recording an RBI.

Rylan Kingrey was 2-for-3 with a run and two walks, Karch Smith was 2-for-3 with two walks and McBride was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and a pair of walks. Fort Dodge was issued nine walks, with three players being hit by pitches.

Jace Johnson, Dalton Eckley and Tanner Peterson each scored a run and Mason Frevert tossed two innings of hitless baseball with a pair of strikes.

Fort Dodge jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first before East rallied, scoring one in the bottom of the inning and three more in the third before plating five in the sixth. The Dodgers would score three in the seventh.

Kolton Schiltz drove in four runs, with Smith and McBride each adding an RBI. Pederson had a double and McBride stole a pair of bases.

Johnson and Kingrey each scored twice while Dencklau came on in relief and gave the Dodgers four innings of work with three strikeouts.

Demaris Henderson, who has signed with Iowa Central to play baseball and wrestle next year, was 3-for-3 with three RBI in the second game. He is the son of 1996 Fort Dodge Senior High graduate Lovely (Taylor) Henderson.

Up next for the Dodgers will be Mason City at Ed McNeil Field on Monday.