University of San Francisco Athletics

FORT WORTH, Texas — San Francisco baseball ace Riley Ornido twirled another seven-inning masterpiece while USF came from behind to win Friday's doubleheader opener, and host Kansas State evened the series in the nightcap with a gem of its own from both sides of the ball, as the Dons took game one, 3-1, and the Wildcats won game two, 7-0, in a non-conference doubleheader at Charlie and Marie Lupton Stadium on the campus of TCU.
 
Jack Winkler had hits in both contests for San Francisco (5-4) to extend his season-opening hitting streak to nine games. Jonathan Allen went a combined 2 for 5 with three walks and a run scored in the doubleheader. Zach Kokoska was 3 for 6 with a walk, a run and an RBI on the day for Kansas State (4-6).
 
GAME ONE

• For the second week in a row, Ornido (2-1) threw seven innings in a victory. He allowed only one earned run in the first inning and limited Kansas State to three hits. After the Wildcats struck first with a sacrifice fly in the opening frame, Ornido never again allowed a runner past second base. He struck out four and also walked four – tying a career high for the normally pinpoint junior right-hander.
   
• San Francisco went ahead for good with two runs in the top of the fifth. Four consecutive singles by Matthew Mendibles, Riki Urata, Matthew McCarthy and Tyler Villaroman – the last two bringing in runs – gave the Dons a 2-1 lead. An insurance run came the very next inning when Jonathan Allen led off the inning with a double, moved to third on a passed ball, then scored on a double steal attempt, making it 3-1.
   
• Kansas State gave itself a chance to win it in the bottom of the ninth. The Wildcats loaded the bases with no outs thanks to a leadoff walk and back-to-back singles. But USF reliever Alex Pham earned his second save of the season by striking out KSU's No. 1 and 2 batters in the lineup, Thomas Hughes and Caleb Littlejim, then got the three-hole batter Will Brennan – who entered the night hitting .484 – to fly out to left and end the game.

GAME TWO

• San Francisco left runners in scoring position in each of the first three innings of game two – including leaving the bases loaded in the first – and left six total through three turns at bat. Meanwhile, Kansas State finally cashed in during the bottom of the third with a two-out rally that saw an RBI single from Littlejim to make it 1-0.
   
• Kansas State slowly built on its lead for the rest of the game, adding one or two more runs in four different following innings. Two in the fourth inning, an unearned run in the fifth, a two-out RBI single by Chris Ceballos in the sixth, and two insurance runs with two outs in the bottom of the eighth thanks to a solo home run by Dylan Phillips and Ceballos' second two-out RBI single of the game.
   
• In all, San Francisco left a season-high 15 runners on base in the nightcap. The Dons left at least one runner on base in every inning. They loaded the bases in the fifth with two outs, but a fielder's choice ended the rally. They had runners on the corners with one out in the seventh, but a double play ended that threat. They had runners on the corners again with no outs in the eighth inning, but an infield popup, a strikeout and a groundout kept the Dons off the scoreboard.

COACH G QUOTES

• "Ornido gave us a great effort in game one. Our defense was solid and the effort very good."
• "Scott Parker had a solid five-inning start in game two. We struggled to score runs. Left 15 on base and five at third base with less than two outs. We will need to start executing better on the offensive end. We've got a quick turnaround for the series rubber match (on Saturday)."

COMING UP

• Saturday's series finale has been moved to 11 a.m. PST/1 p.m. CST due to pending rain. USF left-hander Grant Young will face Kansas State two-way player Brennan. Fans can find all live coverage links on USFDons.com.