Change in Gamecocks pitching rotation, Clarke Schmidt day-to-day

South Carolina ace Clarke Schmidt is day-to-day with a minor oblique strain and will not make his regularly scheduled Friday start against Tennessee, South Carolina announced today.

The Gamecocks will start sophomore right-hander Adam Hill, their usual Sunday starter, on Friday night against Tennessee. Right-hander Wil Crowe will make his usual Saturday start with Sunday's starter yet to be announced.

Schmidt is 3-0 on the season with a 1.04 ERA and 31 strikeouts to just 10 walks. South Carolina says that Schmidt could be available to throw on Sunday.

Closer Tyler Johnson is also out this week and could miss a few more weeks with arm soreness, head coach Chad Holbrook announced Wednesday. Outfielder T.J. Hopkins has a quad injury that the staff will monitor and will likely limit Hopkins this weekend.

Second baseman L.T. Tolbert jammed his thumb last week, but is expected to be ready to go this weekend.

First pitch for Friday's game is scheduled for 7 p.m. while Saturday and Sunday's contests will start at 2 p.m. It's the first SEC series of the season for the 11-5 Gamecocks.