AMES — The Fort Dodge baseball team handed Ames its first loss of the year in conference play here Monday night.

The Dodgers won the opener of an Iowa Alliance North division doubleheader, 5-1, with the Little Cyclones rebounding for a 4-3 victory in the nightcap.

Royce Pederson drove in two and Jaxson Dencklau had two hits to lead Fort Dodge (22-11 overall, 10-4 in league) to the win. The Dodgers took advantage of nine walks, as Pederson and Dencklau both scored runs while Tru McBride added an RBI.

Tanner Peterson tossed a complete-game five-hitter, striking out seven while allowing just the one run.

Fort Dodge supported him with three in the third and added two more insurance runs in the seventh.

“Ames is a very good team and we were right there with them throughout the season series,” FDSH head coach Blake Utley said. “I thought both of our pitchers were consistent all night. Tanner has a good rhythm and works fast with a lot of confidence.

“We were able to take advantage of some opportunities in the first, including a huge hit by Royce before extending it late to bury them.”

Ames erased a 2-1 deficit with three in the third to take control in game two before the Dodgers made it 4-3 with a run in the sixth.

Reggie Pederson had two hits and drove in a run, Cal Pederson had an RBI and Royce Pederson, McBride and Cal Pederson all scored.

Landen Grandors went the distance, allowing just six hits with three strikeouts.

“Landen did a nice job on the mound,” Utley said. “One-run games come down to a couple plays and for us, we had some hard-hit balls go right at them while (Ames) had some find openings and drop.

“Our guys competed hard and I’m proud of them.”

Fort Dodge heads to Storm Lake on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. pitch before playing at Waterloo East on Wednesday beginning at 5 p.m.