Ethan Petry misses South Carolina’s NCAA game against NC State

South Carolina star first baseman Ethan Petry didn’t play in the Gamecocks’ Saturday evening NCAA Tournament game against N.C. State.

Petry was hit by a pitch on his left hand in the third inning of Friday’s win over James Madison. He stayed in the game but seemed to be in discomfort on every swing afterward. He was seen icing the hand every time the Gamecocks were in the dugout.

“It’s a hairline fracture that we’re just gonna have to try to see how we can manage it as we move forward,” South Carolina coach Mark Kingston said on the ESPN+ broadcast. “It’s a big loss for us.”

Kingston offered more details after Saturday’s 6-4 loss to the Wolfpack.

“It was not possible he could play tonight,” Kingston said. “He’s got a hairline fracture right above his pinky. He’s not able to feel like he can swing the bat at a level to allow him to play. We will wake up (Sunday) and re-evaluate, but he was not ready to go tonight.

“It was a matter of getting an X-Ray. It was a matter of deciding if a treatment was possible to get him closer to being ready to play, and after going through that entire process, it was not an option.”

Cole Messina moved from catcher to first base in Saturday’s starting lineup. That moved Dalton Reeves from being designated hitter to handling the duties behind the plate. Kennedy Jones started at DH with Dylan Brewer starting in left field.

Brewer, whose last start was April 26, hit two home runs Saturday.

Petry did not take part in the batting practices or infield warmups Saturday at the stadium.

Petry is hitting .306 on the season and is tied for the team high in home runs with 21. He’s the second veteran Gamecock hitter to be dealing with a hand injury this postseason.

Starting third baseman Gavin Casas is out for the NCAA Tournament after having surgery on his right hand to repair an injury he suffered in the SEC Tournament last week.