Florida State head baseball coach Mike Martin delivered some good and some interesting news on Wednesday, following the Seminoles’ 11-8 extra-inning loss at home to Florida Gulf Coast.
The good news for FSU is that 6-7 pitcher Jim Voyles will return for this weekend’s upcoming 3-game series at Duke. Voyles, a junior, was injured after taking a line drive off the head during a home series with Notre Dame last month.
“Jim is traveling and will be pitching this weekend,” Martin said. “He is okay and ready to go.â€
Voyles, a junior, has been arguably FSU’s best pitcher this season. Voyles is 5-0 with a 1.19 ERA. Last month, Voyles was among 72 pitchers named to the National Pitcher of the Year watch list.
The Seminoles will also shake up the rotation this weekend. Throughout the season, the weekend rotation has been Mike Compton, Drew Carlton and Cole Sands.
Warchant reported on Wednesday that Carlton, typically the Saturday starter, will throw on Friday night against Duke. Sands moves up from the Sunday to the Saturday starter and FSU will close the series with Voyles’ twin brother, Ed Voyles on the mound, leaving redshirt senior Mike Compton the odd man out.
Compton is 5-3 this season with a 4.17 ERA. Compton threw 4 2/3 shutout innings against Bowling Green his last time out, but struggled against Clemson in his previous start. No reason has been given for the change, nor is it known what Compton’s role will be this weekend against Duke.
For Ed Voyles, it will be his third start of the year. The redshirt sophomore is 1-1 this season with a 2.84 ERA in 38 innings.
Martin also said Wednesday that outfielder Jackson Lueck’s status for this weekend remains unknown. Lueck has missed time with a shoulder injury, but has been used as a pinch-runner recently.
“Jackson is just day-to-day until we know for sure,” Martin said.
Lueck is hitting .414 with a homer and 24 RBIs in 31 games this season, but has not taken an at-bat since April 30 against Clemson. Steven Wells Jr. has been filling in out in right field.
After consecutive losses to Jacksonville and Florida Gulf Coast, the Seminoles will look to get back on track Friday as they head to Durham to open a 3-game series with Duke.
FSU is 32-15 on the year and an ACC Atlantic-best 14-6 in conference. Duke is 10-14 in conference, but a respectable 28-21 overall.
“They’ve got 10 wins in the league,” Martin said. “We’re now facing a battle against a very good Duke club.”
Robert Blackburn contributed to this article
wlpearce.com/FSU athletics
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