Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Fort Dodge's Jace Johnson fields a ground ball on Friday at Rogers Park. For more photos, visit CU.messengernews.net

Coming off a sweep of rival Marshalltown the night before, the Fort Dodge baseball team was unable to keep that momentum going here Friday.

The Dodgers dropped a 7-3 decision to Sioux City North at Rogers Park as part of the Iowa Central Tournament.

Senior Karch Smith recorded his second home run of the season, while junior Rylan Kingrey added a hit and a run scored. Freshmen Tanner Peterson and Kolton Schiltz each drove in a run.

“You just can’t give up that many walks to teams,” FDSH head coach Blake Utley said. “And it felt like each time we gave them a freebie, they took advantage, with many of those coming with two outs. We have to figure out a way to get out of those innings and avoid them.

“But I liked the approach we had at the plate. I wish we would have attacked a little sooner against their first pitcher. Karch had a great hit and had another big one taken away. Credit (Sioux City North) because they made some outstanding defensive plays.”

The Stars (11-10 overall) took an early 1-0 lead before adding three runs in both the third and fourth. Parker Petersen led the offense with two doubles, going 3-for-5 while driving in two and scoring twice.

Cael Miller and Cael Schultz each had two RBI. North pitcher Josh Mogensen worked five innings, striking out one with three walks.

Fort Dodge (8-8) issued 10 free passes from pitchers Tru McBride and Rylan Lara on the day. Lara — a sophomore — pitched the final four-plus, after McBride — a freshman — got the start.

“We knew going in that the zone was going to be tight, because we’ve had that umpire before,” Utley said. “But he called it that way all game long. We’ve just got to continue working to get better.”

Smith, who scored twice, connected on the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the second for the solo blast. Schiltz drove in Smith in the fourth after he was walked following the home run.

Kingrey tagged up on a ball hit to the outfield from Peterson on an 0-2 pitch.

Coming into the game, the Dodgers had won four straight vs. Sioux City North. They are back at Rogers Park on Saturday night in the final game of the event to face Southeast Polk (13-6) beginning at 7 p.m.

SIOUX CITY NORTH 7, FORT DODGE 3

SC North 103 300 0 — 7 7 0

Fort Dodge 010 200 0 — 3 2 1

WP–Josh Mogensen (2-2, 5 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 K, 3 BB). LP–Tru McBride (0-2, 2• IP, 1 H, 3 ER, 2 K, 7 BB).

HR–FD: Karch Smith. 2B–SCN: Parker Petersen (2); FD: Rylan Kingrey. RBI–SCN: Parker Petersen (2), Cael Miller (2), Cael Schultz (2); FD: Karch Smith, Tanner Peterson, Kolton Schiltz. SB–SCN: Cael Schultz, Cael Walrod (2); FD: Dalton Eckley. LOB–SCN: 11; FD: 4.