In a ranked matchup just two days into the season, things didn’t go exactly how Fort Dodge head coach Andi Adams wanted it to by the end of Tuesday night.

Still, it was exactly the kind of challenge she’s built her program around.

The fourth-ranked (Class 4A) Dodgers (1-1 overall) went toe-to-toe with No. 10 Dallas Center-Grimes (1-0) for nine innings at Rogers Park. In the end, the Mustangs rallied and plated two runs in the ninth to take a 9-7 victory in a clash that lasted more than three hours.

“Dallas Center-Grimes played exactly how I thought they would,” Adams said. “They’re a lot like us. They are definitely a contender, and I believe we are as well.

“They came ready to play.”

The game had a little bit of everything: Strong pitching, home runs, stolen bases, bunts and plays at the plate.

“We had opportunities, but we allowed them to hang around and come back,” Adams said. “We’re still learning. We have some things to work on and get better at.

“This is only the second game of the season. We make the schedule the way it is for this reason. It tests us early, and if you lose, you just learn and move on and play the next tough opponent.”

Both squads had struggles in the field as well, combining for seven errors in the contest and a couple of base running mishaps as well. In the end, the Mustangs found a way on “Strikeout Cancer” night.

After losing a 5-1 lead and falling behind, the Dodgers forced extra innings as they plated two runs in the bottom of the seventh to erase a 7-5 deficit.

Eighth-grader Macy Wills and sophomore Hope Alstott started the frame with singles. Senior Meah McCaleb grounded out to push runners to second and third.

Wills scored on a wild pitch, and Alstott tied the contest after an Ellie Doster RBI-double to right center field.

“That’s why Macy is in the lineup,” Adams said. “She has been around softball and knows the game. She came up with a big hit and started things for us.

“Ellie has been coming up in big situations since she has been a Dodger, and she knows how to deliver.”

With one out in the ninth, Jenah Gray reached on a fielder’s choice. Gray then scored on Addie Abens RBI double, and Abens herself crossed the plate on an RBI double from Sophia Bauman.

Fort Dodge got a runner on in the ninth, but the Mustangs slammed the door.

DC-G scored first in the fourth inning for a 1-0 lead, but the Dodgers quickly seized control. Doster started the scoring with an RBI single to score Alstott.

Senior Cadence Touney reached on a fielder’s choice, plating McCaleb. Maeleena Meyer scored on an overthrow.

Ashlyn Wills had an RBI single to plate Touney, and Wills scored on a Teryn Rippentrop stolen base.

Doster had two hits and two RBI. Alstott and Macy Wills had two hits each, while Alstott scored twice.

Touney and Wills drove in runs.

Abens was a single shy of the cycle, registering a home run, triple and double while driving in two runs. Kale Montag had a home run for the Mustangs. Genevieve York was 3-for-4 with two RBI.

Fort Dodge went with senior Lucy Porter through the first six innings, while freshman Aubrey Alstott pitched the final three frames. Porter struck out three batters, while throwing 144 pitches.

The Dodgers are back in action on Monday when they host Mason City.

DALLAS CENTER-GRIMES 9, FORT DODGE 7 (9 innings)

DC-Grimes 000 124 002 — 9 11 4

Fort Dodge 000 500 200 — 7 7 3

WP — Tessa Jones (9 IP, 7 H, 9 SO, 4 BB); LP — Aubrey Alstott (3 IP, 4 H, 0 SO, 0 BB).

2B — DC-G: Addie Abens, Sophia Bauman; FD: Ellie Doster 3B — DC-G: Abens; HR — DC-G: Abens, Kale Montag.