Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Tru McBride of Fort Dodge connects for an RBI double against Mason City on Monday at Ed McNeil Field. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

The Fort Dodge baseball team continues to prove in stretches that it could be a force to be reckoned with this season.

The next step is to extend the success from periods and games to doubleheaders and sustained streaks.

The Dodgers (6-3 overall) pulled away from arch rival Mason City in the opener of an Iowa Alliance Conference doubleheader on Monday at McNeil Field, winning 10-2. The Riverhawks (3-6) returned the favor in the nightcap, though, taking a 7-3 decision to salvage a split.

Head coach Blake Utley saw frustration in the eyes of his players for a third time already this season on their home field. FDSH followed the same pattern it did in defeating West Des Moines Dowling and No. 1 Waukee in earlier twinbills before coming up short of a sweep in both instances.

“We have to prove we can be the better ballclub for 14 full innings,” Utley said. “When you win that first one, you know you’re getting (the opponent’s) best shot because they don’t want to go home 0-2. We have to get to that next level and finish the job when the opportunity is there.

“We got up 3-2 early (in the second contest) and I thought we went into cruise control a little. It cost us. Instead of keeping the car in drive, we slipped back into neutral. Another lesson for us to learn from and get better about.”

Fort Dodge broke open a close game one with three runs in the fifth inning and four more in the sixth. Senior Rylan Kingrey and sophomore Cal Pederson both drove in a pair of runs from the top and bottom of the lineup, respectively, with sophomore Kolton Schiltz walking and scoring three times.

Kingrey doubled and stole three bases. Junior Jaxson Dencklau and freshman Reggie Pederson both doubled as well.

Sophomore Tanner Peterson did the rest, scattering a pair of hits and two earned runs over six innings of work on the mound with eight strikeouts.

The FDSH lineup was patient, drawing 13 walks in the opener. The Riverhawks also committed four errors.

“We broke things open against their bullpen and took advantage of a lot of freebies,” Utley said. “Unfortunately, we returned the favor to them after that.”

The Dodgers had a few miscues with losing the ball in the lights and issued seven free passes in the nightcap. Mason City capitalized with three runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth to erase a one-run deficit and prevail.

Sophomore Tru McBride and Reggie Pederson both had RBI doubles, and Dencklau knocked in a run as well. Senior starting pitcher Landen Grandors tried to battle through a recent illness, but was only able to complete two innings.

“Some bad breaks and some mistakes,” Utley said. “Two weeks ago, we told the guys that we thought they were good enough to beat anyone — but there’s also a fine line there where you can get tripped up if you aren’t careful and don’t execute. That’s baseball, and the tale of a young team still finding its identity.”

Kinnick Brown homered for the Riverhawks. Gabe Ries drove in a pair. Owen Rickers went the distance with six strikeouts to earn the win.

Fort Dodge is back in action on Wednesday at Marshalltown. No. 3 Sioux City East then comes to McNeil Field on Friday, along with cross-town rival Sioux City West.

FORT DODGE 10, MASON CITY 2

Mason City 200 000 0 — 2 3 4

Fort Dodge 020 134 x — 10 5 0

WP–Tanner Peterson (6 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K). 2B–FD: Jaxson Dencklau, Rylan Kingrey, Reggie Pederson. SB–FD: Rylan Kingrey 3, Davis Underberg 2, Kolton Schiltz, Reggie Pederson.

MASON CITY 7, FORT DODGE 3

Mason City 200 320 0 — 7 10 1

Fort Dodge 210 000 0 — 3 6 0

2B–FD: Tru McBride, Reggie Pederson. SB–FD: Jaxson Dencklau, Rylan Kingrey.