Florida Atlantic's game at Bethune-Cookman will feature an interesting pitching match-up - something that can't often be said for mid-week college baseball games. Both coaches have chosen to throw their No. 1 starters, albeit for very different reasons.

Even though FAU starter Mike Gipson's stats for the season (2-3, 6.33 ERA) don't scream "ace," he has been the Owls' Friday starter. Gispon struggled with consistanc early in the season and missed his last start with a sore arm.

FAU coach John McCormack believes Gipson (photo) is ready to go - and by that he means ready to return to the weekend rotation. So why is he starting on Tuesday? Well, it's a start in name only. McCormack is going to have Gipson treat this game like a midweek bullpen session, meaning that he will go through his regular pre-game warm-up procedure but pitch only the first inning.

After that he will be pulled for a reliever - likely Hugh Adams. If Gipson shows no ill effects from the start, he will pitch again on Saturday at Western Kentucky.

Where FAU is treating this game like a rehab session that will prepare the Owls to get back into conference play, Bethune considers the game to be almost more important than conference play. The Wildcats are 11-1 in the MEAC and don't really have much competition for the conference title.

One Bethune official told me that the mid-week games are actually more important as far as garnering respect for the program. That's why, in a close game in the first meeting between the two teams, the Wildcats were willing to bring frontline starter Hiram Burgos (4-3, 4.55) out of the pen to try to beat FAU.

Now that the Wildcats feel they have a good shot at beating FAU, they are going for it by starting Burgos.

FAUOwlAccess.com will offer live updates and a complete wrap-up of the game.

Weekend rotation: With McCormack planning to use Gipson again on Saturday, that likely leaves Adam Morrison as the Friday starter at Western Kentucky. Morrison drew his first Friday start of the season a couple days ago, allowing five earned runs in 7 1/3 innings to earn the win over Bryant. McCormack hoped to have Barry Rooks back from injury this weekend, but it seems more likely that Brent Adheen will make Sunday's start.
Owl tube: No matter who pitches on Saturday, fans in South Florida will have the opportunity to watch. CSS (Comcast cable channel 32) will carry the 4 p.m. game.

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