The Fort Dodge baseball team batted around in its first three at-bats of Wednesday’s Iowa Alliance Conference doubleheader against Marshalltown, battering the host Bobcats by scores of 24-3 and 16-1 in a pair of four-inning games at the MHS diamond.

The visiting Dodgers (8-3, 3-1) batted .462 for the doubleheader, rapping out 24 hits in 52 at-bats to complement a total of 20 walks issued by Marshalltown pitching and 11 errors by the defense.

The Bobcats (3-6, 0-4) saw glints of promise throughout the twinbill, but they were overshadowed by routine plays they failed to make against an opponent that didn’t need any help.

Fort Dodge ran its win streak in the series to eight-straight by beating the baseball about the ballpark for four hours straight.

In Wednesday’s opener, the Dodgers sent 12 batters to the plate in the top of the first inning on their way to eight runs. Only four were earned to MHS senior starting pitcher Tayven Dutton, who walked three and struck out one.

Nine of Fort Dodge’s ensuing 16 runs were unearned to relief pitchers Garrett Thede, Treyton Gilliland and Fabian Segovia. Gavin Freiberg pitched a scoreless fourth.

Marshalltown’s three runs all came in the third inning against Fort Dodge freshman Reggie Pederson, who struck out four and walked two for the win. Luke Stalzer led off with a single and advanced all the way to third when Fabian Segovia’s grounder was misplayed. Zander Stupp followed with an RBI single, and Larrs Schoenfelder plated two runs with a two-out double to right-center field.

Sam Greazel had the Bobcats’ only other hit in the opening loss.

Royce Pederson was 3-for-3 with a double, three runs scored and six RBIs to lead the Dodgers.

In the nightcap, Fort Dodge led 7-0 before Stupp hit the Bobcats’ first home run in three years — a no-doubt solo shot in the bottom of the third.

Stupp was the pitcher of record for MHS, however, as he surrendered 11 runs — 10 earned — on seven hits and six walks over 3 1/3 innings, striking out one.

The Dodgers sent 15 batters to the plate in the top of the fourth on their way to nine runs.

William McElroy was the beneficiary of all the offense, pitching all four frames for Fort Dodge for the win. He allowed four hits and two walks while striking out seven. He helped his own cause by going 3-for-3 at the plate with two doubles, two runs and five RBIs.

Fort Dodge amassed 24 hits in the doubleheader sweep, eight going for extra-bases.

Greazel, JJ Schoenfelder and Larrs Schoenfelder each hit a single in the second game for MHS, which is back at home Thursday night for a twinbill with Des Moines Roosevelt.