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 indicated after Friday’s game that the injury was to Petry’s pinky finger.

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 in the 6-4 loss to the Wolfpack.

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.