The Marshalltown baseball team scored first in both games of Thursday’s Iowa Alliance Conference doubleheader against Fort Dodge, but the Dodgers simply scored more.
Fort Dodge took advantage of Marshalltown’s multiple miscues and missed opportunities to sweep the Bobcats, winning 16-1 in four innings and 13-1 in five innings at Ed McNeil Field.
The Dodgers (8-7, 3-3) have won 14 of the last 15 meetings with Marshalltown (1-16, 0-6).
“We were able to get a run across early in both games, which we haven’t done much this year,” said Bobcat head coach Colton Hanke. “However, we dug ourselves into a hole in Game 1 with not being able to throw enough strikes and gave up too many free bases. In Game 2, we were unable to minimize the damage in the third inning.
“We have practice tomorrow to get us prepared for another six-game week next week.”
Marshalltown struck first with a run in its opening at-bat. Caleb Kusserow walked, advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Tayven Dutton, and scored on an error.
Fort Dodge committed five errors in the first game, but MHS didn’t have enough baserunners to capitalize.
The Dodgers did. Fort Dodge batted around in each of its three at-bats, scoring five, five and six runs to cut the game short.
Dutton took the loss, allowing nine runs on five hits, four walks and two hit batsmen over his one inning of work. Gavin Freiberg surrendered seven runs — two earned — on seven hits, two walks and two hit batsmen in two innings of relief.
Tanner Peterson pitched all four innings for Fort Dodge, allowing no hits and two walks while striking out three. Rylan Kingery was 3-for-3 with two doubles, a triple and five RBIs to lead the Dodgers.
Marshalltown had runners on base in every inning of the nightcap, but only one run came across. Kusserow hit a two-out single in the top of the third, Dutton singled, and Kusserow scored on an errant pickoff attempt.
Fort Dodge countered Marshalltown’s solo run with seven in the bottom half and six more in the fourth. The Dodgers took advantage of 12 free bases issued by MHS pitching, wild pitches, passed balls and five Bobcat errors.
Kusserow took the loss, allowing nine runs on three hits, six walks, four hit batsmen and four strikeouts over three innings. Luke Stalzer surrendered four runs on four hits and two walks in an inning of relief.
William McElroy allowed six hits and one unearned run while walking none and striking out seven, going all five innings on the bump for Fort Dodge. Dalton Eckley had two hits to lead the Dodgers.
Dutton and Sam Greazel had two hits apiece to lead MHS.
The Bobcats begin a 12-game homestand with Monday’s doubleheader against Waterloo East starting at 5 p.m.