South Carolina baseball loses top arm for this weekend

South Carolina will have a new pitching rotation this weekend at Georgia.

Junior ace Adam Hill (2-2, 4.23 ERA) is out with shoulder tendinitis, USC coach Mark Kingston announced Wednesday at Founders Park. Freshman John Gilreath (0-2, 4.91) will take Hill's place and start Friday's game. Cody Morris (4-1, 3.91) will remain on Saturday and Ridge Chapman (1-2, 3.57) will start Sunday's finale.

Kingston said Hill is "getting a week off" for the injury. The Gamecocks host Tennessee next weekend.

Gilreath, an 18-year-old who graduated high school in December, has two career starts, including at Clemson on March 4. The left-hander gave up six runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings as Carolina fell 8-7 to the Tigers.

"He's a tough kid," Morris said. "Obviously, being younger and stuff, I don't know if I could have done that being his age. He's a really tough kid, he's got good stuff, and he's a really hard worker.

"I'm excited for the opportunity he's been given. And I think he's going to do well on Friday."

Georgia (15-6, 2-1 SEC) is ninth in the SEC with a batting average of .292. The Bulldogs totaled 21 runs in three games last week at Alabama.

South Carolina (13-8, 1-2), off to its worst start since 1996, lost to The Citadel on Tuesday.

Hill is second in the SEC in strikeouts (49) and opponent batting average (.126).

"I think it's good for me to stay on the same schedule," Morris said, "especially with it still being relatively early in the year and me not pushing it. Really, this weekend's going to be the same as before. I'm trying to stay on the same routine and keep working hard.

"It's going to be a fun series this weekend in Georgia."

Game one is 7 p.m. Friday.

"I think (Gilreath) will be fine," Morris said. "He's got some good guidance with some guys like Adam and older guys. I think he'll be good. "

This story was originally published March 21, 2018 at 12:55 PM with the headline "South Carolina baseball loses top arm for this weekend."