The Fort Dodge baseball team had their chances to secure a sweep or at least a split with Ames here Monday at Ed McNeil Field.

In the end, though, it was the Little Cyclones escaping with a doubleheader victory in Iowa Alliance Conference action.

Scores were 2-0 and 7-6.

“In every game, regardless really of the sport, you can point to a couple of plays that ultimately decided the outcome,” FDSH head coach Blake Utley said. “Those can be positive plays for one team or negative ones for another, but in the end, that big hit you got or didn’t get is what decides who walks away with a win and a loss.

“We’ve got a few things we need to clean up, and we’ll keep getting these guys the reps they need to have the confidence to make those plays.”

It was a classic dual between two pitchers in the opener, as Tanner Peterson and Charles Tucker battled over seven innings. Peterson allowed four hits with two earned runs and four strikeouts, as Tucker scattered three hits with six strikeouts and four walks.

Ames was able to finally get on the scoreboard in the seventh, as Wes Carl drove in Logan Bjerke, who singled to begin the frame. The Little Cyclones added an insurance run on a steal of home by Daniel Murphy.

Rylan Kingrey, Kolton Schiltz and Royce Pederson each had base hits for the Dodgers, as Reggie Pederson, Tru McBride, Bo Marsh and Cal Pederson all drew walks.

Fort Dodge had a chance in the sixth after Royce Pederson doubled, but Tucker was able to get a grounder and his defense turned a double-play to end the threat.

“I thought the momentum of the whole night really turned there in the sixth when Ames turned that double-play,” Utley said. “They came out and were a little flat, but the energy picked up after that made that play and came right out and scored. It carried over into the second game before we were able to get it back there again.”

In the nightcap, Ames used a six-run fourth to erase a 4-0 Fort Dodge lead. The Dodgers would rally back, tying it at 6-all in the sixth before the Little Cyclones plated a run in the seventh and held on.

Royce Pederson was 2-for-3 with a homer, driving in a pair, as Tru McBride, Hayden Porter and Cal Pederson each drove in a run. Reggie Pederson worked two walks and scored a run.

Next action for the Dodgers will be Wednesday when they travel to Des Moines Roosevelt for a doubleheader beginning at 3:30 p.m.

AMES 2, FORT DODGE 0

Ames 000 000 2 — 2 4 1

Fort Dodge 000 000 0 — 0 3 1

WP–Charles Tucker (3-1, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 6 K, 4 BB). LP–Tanner Peterson (3-1, 7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 4 K, 1 BB).

2B–A: Jameson Webber; FD: Kolton Schiltz, Royce Pederson. RBI–A: Wes Carl. SB–A: Logan Bjerke, Cullen Smith, Daniel Murphy (2), Wes Carl; FD: Will McElroy, Cal Pederson.

AMES 7, FORT DODGE 6

Ames 000 600 1 — 7 9 2

Fort Dodge 013 002 0 — 6 5 2

WP–Erik Anderson (2-1, 2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 K, 1 BB). LP–Rylan Kingrey (0-1, 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 K, 0 BB).

HR–FD: Royce Pederson. 2B–A: Logan Bjerke, Cullen Smith. RBI–A: Jackson Kepley (2), Logan Bjerke, Daniel Murphy, Wes Carl (2); FD: Royce Pederson (2), Tru McBride, Cal Pederson, Hayden Porter. SB–A: Jackson Kepley, Logan Bjerke; FD: Rylan Kingrey (2), Jase Nekvinda, Reggie Pederson.