WEST DES MOINES — The Fort Dodge baseball team opened the season with a sweep over Dowling here Wednesday night.

Scores were 5-2 and 4-0.

Tanner Peterson was strong on the mound in the opener, going the distance while allowing just five hits. He recorded five strikeouts on 98 pitches without issuing a walk.

Tru McBride provided the big hit with a home run, finishing 2-for-3 with three RBI, two runs scored and a walk. Will McElroy and Reggie Pederson both had two hits, as Cal Pederson reached base three times.

Kolton Schiltz added an RBI.

Fort Dodge scored four runs in the second and added a run in the sixth against the Maroons.

“Tanner competed his tail off and looked really good,” FDSH head coach Blake Utley said. “You don’t usually see a complete game in the season opener, but he was under control and got a three-pitch inning that was just awesome to see.

“Tru got us on the board with a big three-run homer with two strikes and that was more than enough. Cal did a nice job hitting leadoff for us.”

In the nightcap, Will McElroy, Bennett Nekvinda and Mason Frevert combined to three-hit the Maroons, as McElroy went the first four with a strikeout. Nekvinda picked up two outs in relief before giving way to Frevert, who earned the win with two-plus hitless innings, striking out three.

The Dodgers broke a scoreless tie in the sixth with three runs, as Hayden Porter drove in McBride for the first run, followed by a Peterson double that plated Porter. Schiltz made it 3-0 in favor of Fort Dodge with a single that scored Peterson.

McBride scored twice in the game, as Porter and Peterson each stole a base.

“Will gave us a good start. We are just watching his pitch count here in the early going,” Utley said. “Bennett came on and wanted to finish out that inning, but being his first start, we decided to go to Mason. We are going to use Bennett a lot and I loved seeing that confidence out of him.

“Mason just carved them up from there. Even when it was 0-0, our guys were under control and didn’t panic. Tru made a couple big plays with his hustle that led to runs and that was the game.”

In the twinbill, Dodger pitchers issued two walks compared to 12 by Dowling — who had six in each game.

Fort Dodge returns to action on Friday when they host Algona at Ed McNeil Field. The doubleheader begins at 5 p.m.