Lubbock, Texas – Nebraska freshman Johnny Dorn fanned a career-high 11 over eight shutout innings, as third-ranked Nebraska posted a 6-1 victory over Texas Tech in front of a crowd of 2,581 at Dan Law Field Saturday evening.
The right-hander from Grand Island was superb, holding Texas Tech to four hits over the first eight innings, as he improved to 8-1 on the season. Dorn, who is 4-0 with 0.28 ERA in his last six outings since April 16, matched his career high of eight innings, while his 11 strikeouts eclipsed his previous high of 10 against Creighton on March 29.
"Johnny Dorn is obviously the story of the game," Nebraska Coach Mike Anderson said. "He did an outstanding job against a very good offense. He was effective because he threw a number of pitches for first-pitch strikes. The only time he got into any trouble was when he didn’t get first-pitch strikes over."
The Huskers staked Dorn to an early lead, jumping to a 4-0 lead after three innings and came one out away from handing the Red Raiders their first home shutout in 13 years. The win also clinched the season series, marking the first time in Big 12 play – and the first time in 20 years – that NU went .500 or better in every conference road series.
"I felt very comfortable tonight," Dorn said. "I had all my pitches working for me tonight and had a great defense
behind me. We put up some runs up early and it made it easier because I just had to throw strikes and get them to put the ball in play."
The Huskers (41-11, 16-7 Big 12) were held to just three hits, including two by first baseman Curtis Ledbetter, who went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. NU took advantage of 10 Texas Tech walks and a pair of costly error that led to three early unearned runs, as the Red Raiders dipped to 30-20 overall and 8-13 in the Big 12.
Nebraska broke on top in the top of the first, taking advantage of a pair of walks by Texas Tech starter Dustin Richardson. The Red Raider lefty walked the first two Huskers to open the game before Ledbetter’s RBI single two batters later spotted the visitors a 1-0 lead.
The Huskers extended their lead to two runs in the second, manufacturing a run with two outs, as Richardson hit Ryan Wehrle and walked Jeff Christy before Jesse Boyer’s grounder was misplayed by Tech shortstop Cameron Blair, allowing Wehrle to score on the play.
NU pushed the lead to 4-0 by taking advantage of Texas Tech’s second error of the evening. After a leadoff walk to Alex Gordon, Ledbetter’s grounder to second was thrown wide of the bag for a two-base error, allowing Gordon to score from first on the errant throw. Daniel Bruce then moved Ledbetter to third on a ground out before Andy Gerch’s safety squeeze plated Ledbetter with the Huskers’ fourth run.
The Huskers finally chased Richardson in the seventh, as he issued a leadoff walk to Joe Simokaitis, who stole second and came home on Ledbetter’s second hit of the night, an RBI triple to right center. Bruce then made it 6-0 as he lofted a sacrifice fly to right to score Ledbetter.
Richardson, who started because Brian Wyatt pitched in relief last night, went 6.1 innings, allowing six runs – three earned - on just three hits, but struggled with his control, as he walked eight Huskers to drop to 1-1 on the season.
Tech has their best opportunity off Dorn in the seventh, as Chris Williams singled, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by Jeff Christy, but Dorn got out of the jam, fanning Brent Thomas and Cody Fuller to end the rally.
Joseph Callander two-out triple in the ninth off Ryan Bohanan accounted for Texas Tech’s only run, as he plated Chris Williams, who reached on a two-out walk.
The series concludes Sunday afternoon at Noon, as Zach Kroenke (5-2, 3.24 ERA) takes the hill for the Huskers. The game will be carried on the Pinnacle Sports Network and also available on Huskers.com.
Nebraska vs Texas Tech (May 14, 2005)
Box score (NCAA)
2005 Nebraska Baseball
#3 Nebraska at Texas Tech
May 14, 2005 at Lubbock, Texas (Dan Law Field)
Nebraska 6 (41-11,16-7 Big 12)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
Boyer, Jesse lf.......... 2 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 1
Simokaitis, Joe ss....... 3 1 1 0 2 0 4 3 4
Gordon, Alex 3b.......... 4 1 0 0 1 2 0 4 2
Ledbetter, Curtis 1b..... 5 2 2 2 0 0 9 0 0
Bruce, Daniel cf......... 4 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 1
Gerch, Andy rf........... 3 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0
Fusilier, Brandon dh..... 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
Adams, Trey ph.......... 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
Wehrle, Ryan 2b.......... 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
Opitz, Jake 2b.......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 0
Christy, Jeff c.......... 1 0 0 0 3 0 11 0 0
Dorn, Johnny p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Bohanan, Ryan p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals................... 27 6 3 4 10 6 27 11 8
Texas Tech 1 (30-20,8-13 Big 12)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
Blair, Cameron ss........ 4 0 1 0 0 1 3 4 1
Avants, Carey 3b......... 3 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 0
Stewart, Trey 1b......... 3 0 1 0 1 1 7 0 2
Capps, Brian lf.......... 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
Smith, Matt dh........... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
Williams, Chris ph...... 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
Callender, Joseph 2b..... 4 0 1 1 0 0 4 3 0
Thomas, Brent rf......... 3 0 0 0 1 2 5 0 1
Fuller, Cody cf.......... 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
Fouts, Cooper c.......... 3 0 1 0 0 2 6 3 0
Richardson, Dustin p..... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Lewis, Fielding p....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals................... 30 1 5 1 4 11 27 10 6
Score by Innings R H E
-------------------------------------------
Nebraska............ 112 000 200 - 6 3 3
Texas Tech.......... 000 000 001 - 1 5 2
-------------------------------------------
E - Ledbetter, C(7); Opitz, J.(4); Christy, J.(8); Blair(24); Callender(13).
DP - Huskers 3. LOB - Huskers 8; TT 6. 2B - Stewart(7). 3B - Ledbetter,
C(1); Callender(1). HBP - Boyer, J.; Wehrle, R.. SH - Gerch, A.(4). SF -
Bruce, D.(2). SB - Simokaitis(15); Williams(24). CS - Simokaitis(4); Adams,
T.(1); Wehrle, R.(1).
Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP
--------------------------------------------------
Dorn, Johnny........ 8.0 4 0 0 3 11 26 29 114
Bohanan, Ryan....... 1.0 1 1 1 1 0 4 5 20
Texas Tech IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP
--------------------------------------------------
Richardson, Dustin.. 6.1 3 6 3 8 4 21 31 117
Lewis, Fielding..... 2.2 0 0 0 2 2 6 10 37
Win - Dorn, J. (8-1). Loss - Richardson (1-1). Save - None.
WP - Richardson(6). HBP - by Richardson (Wehrle, R.); by Lewis (Boyer, J.).
Inherited runners/scored: Lewis 1/1. Pitches/strikes: Dorn, J. 114/73; Bohanan,
R. 20/12; Richardson 117/60; Lewis 37/18.
Umpires - HP: Tim Norman 1B: Doug Williams 3B: Bob Homolka
Start: 6:30p.m. Time: 2:31 Attendance: 2584
Game: NU52
Courtesy: Scott Bruhn/NU Media Relations
