ESTHERVILLE — Ellie Doster delivered a two-run single in the top of the seventh to lift the eighth-ranked (Class 4A) Fort Dodge softball team past Estherville-LC here Tuesday night, 2-0.

Doster drove in both Hope Alstott and Ava Wessels on a 1-1 pitch from Rylee Yager, the ace for the No. 8 (3A) Midgets.

Lucy Porter recorded back-to-back strikeouts with runners on first and second to secure the win for the Dodgers (12-5 overall). Porter struck out 10 and walked just one, scattering five hits while picking up her 75h career victory inside the circle.

“This was a really good win for us against a quality opponent,” FDSH head coach Andi Adams said. “They’re not only successful in softball, but they win in all sports.

“Lucy was effective and controlled the game. We had runners on but just couldn’t get that big hit to break it open until late with Ellie.”

Freshman Grace Nichols continued her strong run at the plate with a double. Alstott was 3-for-3 with a walk.

Maeleena Meyer had the only other hit off Yager, who struck out four and walked three.

Yager, a senior, entered the night with an earned run average of just 0.41 while striking out 122 batters in 68 innings. She was also batting .649, but was held hitless vs. Porter.

Hillary Ruschy had two hits for E-LC, which had won four straight since a loss to eighth-rated (1A) Riverside. No. 6 (4A) Carlisle was the only other team to defeat the Midgettes this year.

“That is a talented, well coached team (in E-LC),” Adams said. “I’m glad we were able to make it work to get the game in (weather-wise), because those are the kind of close situations we’re going to have moving forward.”

Fort Dodge will now turn its attention to hosting its own invitational starting Friday at Rogers Park. The talented field includes No. 8 (5A) Ames, Ankeny, second-ranked (5A) Ankeny Centennial, Atlantic, No. 12 (5A) Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Charles City, top-ranked (1A) Clarksville, No. 7 (4A) Clear Creek-Amana, Des Moines Roosevelt, Martensdale-St. Marys, Mid-Prairie, No. 3 (1A) Newell-Fonda, second-rated (4A) North Polk, top-rated (3A) Williamsburg and 15th-ranked (4A) Winterset.