The Rundown
SAN FRANCISCO - The University of San Francisco Dons (22-17, 11-6 WCC) baseball team bounced back with a gritty performance to earn a 1-0 win over Gonzaga (20-17, 10-7 WCC) to even their three-game series at one apiece.
 
It was another battle of the pitchers, as it took until the six innings for either team to get a run on the board. For USF, it was Riley Ornido who got the start today and he bounced back from his first loss of the season against LMU in impressive fashion. The sophomore would throw seven and two-third innings of shutout baseball, scattering three hits and striking out seven.
 
The Dons would score the first and only run of the game in the sixth inning. Jonathan Allen would lead-off the inning with a single up the middle. After the Bulldogs retired the next two outs, it would be Ross Puskarich come up to bat. The senior would lace a double down the right field line to score Allen, who was running on the pitch, all the way from first base, giving the Dons a 1-0 lead.
 
Ornido would come out in the next half inning and continue his impressive afternoon, striking out the first two batters of the inning before getting a line out to end the seventh and keep the Bulldogs scoreless. Brendan Jenkins would come on in relief for Ornido with two outs in the eighth inning and a runner on second. The senior would strikeout the final out of the inning in a three-two count to keep the Bulldogs off the board.
 
After a scoreless eighth for the Dons, Jenkins would come out in the ninth and strike out the first two batters of the inning. A walk and a single would put runners on first and third with two outs. The next batter would hit a chopper between shortstop and third base, but Perri would field and throw on to second to get the final out of the game.
 
With this win the Dons are now 22-17 overall and 11-6 in the WCC. The rubber game of the series is set for a 1 p.m. start.

COACHES CORNER
USF head coach Nino Giarratano

????| Another Ornido gem, and coach knows tomorrow will be a battle ?????? pic.twitter.com/MCBWsfiYFJ

— USF Dons Baseball (@SFDonsBaseball) April 22, 2018

GAME STATS

• Puskarich's RBI today puts him at 29 on the season and tied for the team lead in that category with Allen.
• Perri's two hits move him to 52 on the season, which is second behind Allen for the team lead.
• With his double today, Perri improves his WCC and team leading tally to 15 on the season.
• Ornido's 7 2/3 innings of shutout baseball moves his ERA down to 1.58.
• Ornid's seven Ks moves his team lead up to 72 on the season.
• Jenkins' six save of the season moves him into sole possession of third in the conference in saves.