Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Ava Wessels of Fort Dodge slides into home against Marshalltown on Wednesday at Rogers Park. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

The eighth-ranked (Class 4A) Fort Dodge softball team piled up 23 runs and 17 hits in a doubleheader sweep of Marshalltown here Wednesday afternoon at Rogers Park.

The Dodgers won the opener, 15-1 in four innings, and the second contest by a final of 8-0 in five. They have now defeated the Bobcats 43 times in a row overall dating back to 2012.

Of the eight times Fort Dodge (20-7 overall, 13-1 in the Iowa Alliance North) came to the plate, they scored in all but one inning. Top hitters Hope Alstott, Meah McCaleb and Ellie Doster set the table and delivered throughout the twinbill.

The top three in the Dodger lineup went a combined 8-for-13 with eight runs scored, 12 RBI and five stolen bases on the day.

“When you can get that kind of production from the top of our lineup, you are going to find success,” said FDSH head coach Andi Adams, who improved to 76-12 in her 25-year career vs. Marshalltown. “Hope and Meah do a great job of waiting for their pitch and connecting, and Ellie has been locked in at the plate to drive them in.

“We got some nice contributions from others too, like Teryn Rippentrop and Aubrey Alstott in the opener.”

McCaleb drove in four in the first game with a double and two runs scored; Hope Alstott scored twice, drove in two and stole two bases; and Doster had a pair of RBI.

Rippentrop was 2-for-2 with two runs scored, and Aubrey Alstott added two hits. Cadence Touney and Ashlyn Wills each drove in a run with Wills also stealing three bases.

Lucy Porter pitched all four innings, allowing just three hits with six strikeouts and no walks.

McCaleb drove in three in game two, going 2-for-2 with two runs. Doster chipped in two more RBI, and Touney added her second RBI of the day. Doster had two doubles for the only extra-base hits of the day for the Dodgers.

Aubrey Alstott scattered seven hits, striking out six without issuing a walk over five innings of work.

“Both Lucy and Aubrey attacked the zone,” Adams said. “They were smart with their pitches and location, and our defense was nearly perfect behind them.”

Fort Dodge remained atop the division with the sweep leading into a pivotal doubleheader at No. 12 Ames (24-8, 11-1) on Monday. Before that, they will head to the Linn-Mar/Alburnett Tournament on Saturday when they open play vs. No. 9 (5A) Iowa City High at 11 a.m.

FORT DODGE 15, MARSHALLTOWN 1 (4 inn.)

Marshalltown 001 0 — 1 3 2

Fort Dodge 339 x — 15 10 1

WP–Lucy Porter (12-3, 4 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 6 K, 0 BB). LP–Briley Danielson (4-7, 2ª IP, 8 H, 8 ER, 0 K, 2 BB).

2B–M: Kate Sandvick, Olivia Wise. RBI–FD: Hope Alstott (2), Meah McCaleb (3), Ellie Doster (2), Cadence Touney (3), Ashlyn Wills. SB–FD: Cadence Touney, Teryn Rippentrop, Ava Wessels (2), Ashlyn Wills (3), Hope Alstott (2).

FORT DODGE 8, MARSHALLTOWN 0 (5 inn.)

Marshalltown 000 00 — 0 8 1

Fort Dodge 320 12 — 8 7 0

WP–Aubrey Alstott (7-4, 5 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 6 K, 0 BB). LP–Hanna Osgood (4-5, 4 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 0 K, 2 BB).

2B–M: Olivia Wise; FD: Ellie Doster (2). RBI–FD: Meah McCaleb (3), Ellie Doster (2), Cadence Touney. SB–FD: Hope Alstott (2), Meah McCaleb, Cadence Touney, Macy Wills, Emersyn Lara.