FORT DODGE — Past failure fueled perfection.

Top-ranked Clear Creek Amana completed Iowa’s first undefeated softball season in 32 years, capitalizing on some early defensive missteps by No. 3 Carlisle and cruising, 3-0, in the Class 3A state final Friday at the Rogers Sports Complex.

“I don’t know what to say,” said all-tournament captain Moriah Morrissey, who pitched the Clippers to their sixth straight postseason shutout. “I’m in awe.”

And the Clippers (45-0) are in exclusive company. They’re the fifth Iowa team to go unscratched throughout a season, the first since Urbandale went 44-0 in 1977.

“This had everything to do with the last two seasons,” said CCA Coach Jim White, referring to a pair of upset losses to Davenport Assumption in regional play. “All year long, the girls were so focused, so hungry.”

And now, so perfect.

Carlisle (38-2) lent some assistance, coughing up five errors. All three of the Clippers’ runs were unearned.

“(White) always says that if you get ahead of a team, they’ll fall apart,” said outfielder Ashley Akers, who was a major part of the two-run rally in the third inning that put the Clippers ahead to stay.

Maliah Fligg singled to right, then pinch-runner Cassie Downes moved to second on Tara Walls’ sacrifice bunt.

After a ground out by Katy Sexton advanced Downes to third, Akers laid down a bunt, Carlisle pitcher Jordan Gronewold threw the ball away and Downes scored.

Akers tallied on Melissa Walls’ single, and the Clippers led, 2-0.

CCA made it 3-0 in the fourth, when Kira Hennes slashed a ground ball down the first-base line and Caitlin Wnek beat the throw home.

Carlisle made one serious challenge, in the fifth, when the Wildcats had runners at second and third, one out and Gronewold — their most prolific hitter — at the plate.

Under normal circumstances, White might consider an intentional walk. But a stiff breeze was blowing in.

“I didn’t think she could hit it out through that,” White said. “I figured, worst-case scenario was a double and a 3-2 game.”

Instead, Morrissey induced Gronewold into an infield fly out.

“I had the confidence that my teammates would make outs,” said Morrissey, who then struck out Sarah Wilcox to snuff out the threat.

That was Carlisle’s last chance. When Hennes gloved Dyana Dubois’ fly ball to left field in the seventh, the Clippers were champions for the ninth time, the fifth under White.

“The failure of the past two years, that drove us,” Akers said. “We came together, we had each other’s backs and we were fearless.”

Akers and Katy Sexton joined Morrissey on the all-tournament team. Walls had two of the Clippers’ five hits.

Morrissey did not pitch CCA’s quarterfinal win over Charles City, but threw 18 scoreless innings in the final two rounds. She allowed four hits Friday, did not walk a batter and struck out six.