Quote:Chambliss to start vs. Florida
By Steve Ellis
Tallahassee Democrat

FSU head coach Mike Martin admits it's not usual to go with a weekend starter for a midweek game. But that will happen next week when Florida State right-hander Tyler Chambliss (3-0) starts at top-ranked Florida on Feb. 28. The team's biggest test of the early season is sandwiched between weekend series against non-league opponents Minnesota and Brown.

"Nothing comes before our conference," Martin said, "but with Florida on Tuesday and conference games another 11 days away (after Florida), we decided to do this."

That move will provide former Lincoln/TCC pitcher Michael Hyde his first opportunity to start this season. Hyde, who pitched well in two innings of relief against UNC-Asheville, will start against Minnesota on Saturday. Bryan Henry will start the Minnesota series opener on Friday and Barret Browning will get the nod on Sunday.

The projected starting lineup for Brown the next week will have Henry, Hyde and Browning in the starting rotation.

FSU plays Mercer, Winthrop and North Florida in weekday games in March. And each of those teams has already pulled off early-season upsets. But Martin said he will not use any pitchers from the weekend rotation for those games.

Henry honored

Bryan Henry earned ACC honors as pitcher of the week last season for earning victories over Miami and Florida. The opponent wasn't as impressive, but a dominating effort against UNC-Asheville was enough for the former Florida High student-athlete to be named pitcher of the week again.

Henry (2-0, 1.45 ERA) allowed no walks while giving up just three hits and striking out nine against the Bulldogs. He allowed just one hit in 16 at-bats by right handers on Friday. Opponents are hitting just .188 against Henry.
Noteworthy

Martin is close to becoming just the eighth coach in NCAA baseball history to earn 1,400 victories. He needs two victories to reach that level. ... Martin said he expects Mark Gildea to return to left field on Friday after aggravating his hamstring during Sunday's game against UNC-Asheville. NEXT SERIES

Minnesota at FSU, 6 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.