MARION – The third-ranked (Class 4A) Fort Dodge softball team finished play at the Linn-Mar/Alburnett Tournament with a 3-1 record, earning a pair of wins over fellow state softball regulars.

The Dodgers topped Johnston, 8-3, and finished fifth when they downed No. 9 (4A) Cedar Rapids Xavier, 7-2. Sixth-ranked North Scott bested No. 10 (5A) Linn-Mar for the event title.

A quick start for Fort Dodge (29-4 overall) vs. the Dragons helped them take care of business, as they scored three in the first and added a fourth run in the second. Hope Alstott had two doubles, drove in a run and scored once, as Meg Marsh homered and scored three times.

Grace Nichols also went deep, plating two runs, as Ellie Doster had two hits. Doster and Teryn Rippentrop each drove in a run, with Emersyn Lara scoring twice and stealing two bases. Aubrey Alstott pitched all five innings, striking out four.

“We bounced back like I knew we would,” FDSH head coach Andi Adams said. “We didn’t have a great day at the plate (on Friday in a win over Alburnett and a loss to No. 4 (3A) Mount Vernon), but these girls are mentally so tough. They just flushed that day and came out ready to go Saturday.”

Five runs crossed the plate in the second for the Dodgers vs. Cedar Rapids Xavier, who qualified for state in 4A last summer with them. Doster, Nichols and Maeleena Meyer each had two hits, with Doster driving in two and Meyer scoring twice. Hope Alstott, Rippentrop, Nichols and Meyer each had an RBI.

Sydney Carver picked up the win inside the circle.

Fort Dodge hosts Ames on Monday night at Rogers Park in Iowa Alliance North action beginning at 5 p.m.