COLUMBIA — No. 21 South Carolina baseball is coming off a series defeat to No. 2 Arkansas and faces another top-five opponent, but it will be without its starting shortstop.
South Carolina coach Mark Kingston announced Thursday that would Tippett would not play against No. 5 Kentucky because he is still in concussion protocol and is nursing a minor knee ailment sustained last weekend.
The Gamecocks (27-13, 9-9 SEC) kick off a three-game series against the Wildcats (32-7, 15-3) at Founders Park on Friday (3 p.m., SEC Network).
“I think (Ellis) is ready to go,” said infielder Parker Noland. “I believe he is capable of playing at this level, at a very high level. He’s one of the best freshman shortstops I’ve seen in a long time… I think he’s going to take off… he’s really fast, he has really powerful arms, he’s a clean shortstop with clean motions, and I believe he has the potential to be really great.”
Pitcher Roman Kimball, a redshirt sophomore, left last Friday’s game against the Razorbacks with a thumb injury. Kingston said Kimball is ready to go this week, practicing very well and recovering from the fluke injury.
“Hopefully he pitches just as well but is able to go much further into the game,” Kingston said.
