AMES — The eighth-ranked (Class 4A) Fort Dodge softball team moved closer to secure at least a piece of the Iowa Alliance North division title here Monday night.

For the second third consecutive meeting, the Dodgers settled for a split with No. 11 (5A) Ames, winning the first, 3-0, before falling in the nightcap, 7-3.

Lucy Porter struck out four and allowed just five hits in the opener, as Fort Dodge (23-10 overall, 14-2 in league) plated all three runs in the sixth the two exchanged scoreless innings. She also helped her own cause with an RBI.

Hope Alstott had two hits with Ashlyn Wills driving in a run. Meah McCaleb, Macy Wills and Teryn Rippentrop all scored, as Rippentrop had a hit.

“That was a hard-fought softball game between two very good teams that both wanted it,” FDSH head coach Andi Adams said. “We were able to finally give Lucy some run support and she did the rest.

“I thought our defense played great all night long.”

In the nightcap, the Little Cyclones broke things open with three in the first and three more in the second. Ashlyn Wills had three hits, Grace Nichols recorded two and McCaleb had an RBI.

Earlier this year, Ames won the opener, 3-2, with Fort Dodge earning a 6-3 triumph. The two also split their second encounter in 2024 after the Little Cyclones scored a sweep in the first.

“It’s tough to battle back, especially against a talented team like Ames,” Adams said. “They really wanted it and they came right out and took it to us. I thought our girls did a nice job of competing and trying to get back in it and make it a game.”

The Dodgers step out of conference play for a single game at Ankeny Centennial Tuesday night before completing the league slate at Waterloo East on Wednesday.