Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Grace Nichols of Fort Dodge celebrates after hitting a solo home run against Marshalltown on Wednesday at Rogers Park.

Some may see the third-ranked (Class 4A) Fort Dodge softball squad’s run output on Wednesday against Marshalltown and think all offense.

The Dodgers did, after all, score 33 times on 29 hits in extending the program’s win streak against the Bobcats to an almost-surreal 45 games spanning 14 seasons.

Adams first made note, though, of her team’s pitching and defense — two areas she knows will have to stand resolute against the heavy hitters in the weeks to come.

FDSH never broke a sweat against Marshalltown at Rogers Park, posting 17-0 and 16-0 twin four-inning routs. While hitters up and down the lineup shined for the Dodgers (7-1 overall, 4-0 in the IAC North), sophomore hurlers Aubrey Alstott and Sydney Carver held up their end of the bargain and then some in completely silencing the Bobcats (2-5, 2-4).

“It was great to see Aubrey come out and take care of business, then Syd do the same,” said Adams, who is now 78-12 in her 26-year career at Fort Dodge versus Marshalltown. “It’s not always easy after long innings to keep your focus and concentration, especially when you are (spotted a) big lead. But they both did a fantastic job and I’m very proud of them.

“Our offense has been amazing so far. We know we’re going to need to consistently score runs. But we also have to hit our spots and work ahead in the count (pitching-wise), and execute defensively behind them. There can’t be any let-up or margin for error when it comes to our physical and mental focus.”

Junior slugger Ellie Doster continued to feast at the plate, slugging home runs in both games. The catcher has been an almost-impossible out so far this year, batting .727 with five homers and 25 runs batted in — a pace of over three RBI per contest.

“We’ve been ripping the ball,” Adams said. “Up and down the lineup, top to bottom. Even when we put in some of the younger players, they’re getting hits or making loud outs.

“Ellie has obviously been the one to set the tone. I don’t care who you are at what level, going this long with that kind of average and that many (RBI) is incredible. Our team average right now is .455. We have 32 exra-base hits. It’s a hitter’s world now, and our offense knows it has to keep producing at a high level.”

Sophomore Grace Nichols also socked a long ball in the opener, as did junior Calliegh Zimmermann. At one point, Doster, Nichols and Zimmermann went back-to-back-to-back.

Junior all-stater Hope Alstott was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs and two RBI. Freshmen Macy Wills and Meg Marsh added two hits each, and Wills stole three bases.

Aubrey Alstott allowed only one hit and struck out six.

Wills was 3-for-3 in game two with two runs and two driven in from her lead-off spot in the order. Doster and Hope Alstott both drove in three.

Senior Maeleena Meyer was 2-for-2 with two runs. Freshman Rylee O’Brion doubled and scored twice.

Carver twirled a two-hitter with four strikeouts.

Fort Dodge now heads to Sioux City North on Friday for a make-up twinbill with the Stars at 5 p.m. The Dodgers will have a quick turnaround and go to the Tom Bakey West Des Moines Valley Classic on Saturday, where they meet sixth-rated (5A) Dallas Center-Grimes (11 a.m.) and Urbandale (3 p.m.).

FORT DODGE 17, MARSHALLTOWN 0 (4)

Marshalltown 000 0 — 0 1 4

Fort Dodge 485 x — 17 14 1

WP–Aubrey Alstott (4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K). 2B–FD: Grace Nichols, Ellie Doster. 3B–FD: Hope Alstott. HR–FD: Ellie Doster, Grace Nichols, Calliegh Zimmermann. SB–FD: Macy Wills 3, Teryn Rippentrop, Meg Marsh.

FORT DODGE 16, MARSHALLTOWN 0 (4)

Marshalltown 000 0 — 0 2 4

Fort Dodge 4(11)1 x — 16 15 0

WP–Sydney Carver (4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K). 2B–FD: Teryn Rippentrop, Macy Wills, Rylee O’Brion. HR–FD: Ellie Doster. SB–FD: Maeleena Meyer 2, Meg Marsh, Hope Alstott, Rylee O’Brion, Brooklyn Gilliland.