With the University of Nebraska honoring the city of Grand Island and former Islander Johnny Dorn Friday night at Haymarket Park, it would be understandable if the Cornhuskers' senior right-hander might be feeling extra pressure to perform.
Instead, Dorn insists he's taking the opposite approach for Friday night's 6:35 p.m. game against Louisiana-Lafayette.
"I'm just going to have a good time with it," Dorn said. "It's cool to think that some people are coming down to see me and celebrate that day. It's a good feeling and I'll just try to take it all in."
No. 6-ranked Nebraska (34-8-1) will be hosting the Ragin' Canjuns (22-23) in a three-game series this weekend. The teams will play a day-night doubleheader with games at 12:05 p.m. and 6:35 p.m. Saturday.
On Friday, Dorn and Grand Island will be honored in a "Hometown Huskers" promotion that will include a HuskerVision segment on the Hawks Field video board. HuskerVision also filmed an interview with Dorn and fellow Grand Island native Brooks Wells, who serves as Nebraska's bullpen catcher.
"We had some fun with it," Dorn said. "It's G.I. Day -- Brooksey has to be in there."
Wells isn't sure what the end HuskerVision product will be, but said he and Dorn had a good time with it.
"All I can say is that Johnny and I had a little interview," Wells said. "It was kind of hard to sit there and not be goofy the whole time."
In his first season as Nebraska's No. 1 starting pitcher, Dorn has thrived. He enters the weekend with a 5-1 record and a 2.60 ERA in 10 starts, allowing just 48 hits in 69 1/3 innings, while striking out 73 and walking 19.
Dorn has held eight of his 10 opponents to two runs or less. He ranks among the Big 12 leaders in ERA (fifth), strikeouts (second, 73) and opponent batting average (fourth, .198).
"One of my main goals was to be more consistent and I think I've done that, for the most part," Dorn said. "There are still a couple of things I'd like to take back, but that's baseball and that's how things go.
"I'm just going to keep attacking hitters and hopefully, things will continue going my way."
Dorn has a 36-10 career record and is five wins shy of the program record of 41 victories set by Shane Komine. Dorn also ranks on Nebraska's all-time top 10 list in starts (second, 54), strikeouts (third, 269) and innings pitched (349 2/3, second).
A sizable contingent of Grand Island residents is expected to attend Friday night's contest, despite the weather forecast calling for a 50 percent chance of rain. Home Federal Bank in Grand Island has arranged for a bus to transport local fans to the game.
"I think there are a lot of people coming down and it's going to be a really net day," Wells said. "Johnny deserves it -- with four years here and as much as he's done, he deserves to have as many people come out as can come."
Although Louisiana-Lafayette travels to Lincoln one game under .500, Nebraska coach Mike Anderson said he expects a tough test in the non-conference series. The Ragin' Canjuns were predicted to be the Sun Belt Conference champions and started the season ranked No. 19 in the Baseball America preseason poll, but struggled to a 6-12 start.
A College World Series qualifier in 2000, Louisiana-Lafayette took two of three games from Nebraska at Haymarket Park in 2003.
Hunter Moody (7-2, 3.21 ERA) will oppose Dorn on the mound. Dorn said Moody was a teammate of Huskers' second baseman Jake Opitz last summer in the Cape Cod League and is an excellent pitcher.
Moody and Dorn represent two of the winningest pitchers in the country. Dorn is the leading active pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball with 36 victories, while Moody is looking to become just the fourth pitcher in Sun Belt history with 30 career wins.
"We're facing one of the best pitchers in the country on Friday," Anderson said, agreeing with Dorn's scouting report. "This is a team that has the potential to win its conference tournament and move on into regionals, so we'd better be ready."
Nebraska will be attempting to regroup a bit after having to deal with the injuries to two senior starters. First baseman Craig Corriston is out of the lineup indefinitely after undergoing knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus, while catcher Mitch Abeita has missed the last two games with an injury to his right thumb, but is expected to return this weekend.
"We're trying to regroup a little bit and see where some new kids can take us," Anderson said. "Obviously, we want to do well against Louisiana-Lafayette, but we're going to have some new kids in the lineup and maybe that will help us in the long run because we'd like to try to create some depth."
Series notes
- As of Thursday afternoon spots were still available on Grand Island Home Federal's fan bus. To reserve a seat, call Jane Anania at (308) 398-4964.
- Anderson said Thursday that the Huskers are hopeful that Corriston can return later this season. He was batting .323 with four home runs and 28 RBIs before having surgery Wednesday.
- Nebraska's 34 victories equals the Huskers' total for the 2007 season. NU's .802 winning percentage is on pace for the highest winning percentage in school history.
- The Huskers are 13-2 in games decided by two runs or less and 24-2-1 at Haymarket Park.
- The Big 12 Conference announced Thursday that the regular-season finale between Nebraska and Missouri at Columbia, Mo., will be televised nationally by the Fox Sports Network. The game's start time has been moved to 3:30 p.m.
Nebraska vs. La.-Lafayette
Friday
Nebraska (Johnny Dorn, 5-1, 2.60 ERA) vs. Louisiana-Lafayette (Hunter Moody, 7-2, 3.21 ERA), 6:35 p.m.
Saturday
Nebraska (Thad Weber, 8-2, 3.75 ERA) vs. Louisiana-Lafayette (Michael Cook, 5-3, 4.66 ERA), 12:05 p.m.; Nebraska (Aaron Pribanic, 3-3, 4.45 ERA) vs. Louisiana-Lafayette (TBA), 6:35 p.m.
