After a 2011 season marred by injuries, South Carolina was enjoying a relatively injury-free 2012.

Until Wednesday.

The Gamecocks announced that starting catcher Grayson Greiner tore his left lateral meniscus on Wednesday during practice and will undergo surgery on Thursday. He is out for the NCAA Regionals, and a team spokesman said that there is no definite word on how long Greiner will be out should USC advance to the Super Regionals and/or the College World Series.

One source close to the team said that there was an outside chance that Greiner could return for the Super Regionals, and if the Gamecocks advance to Omaha, Greiner would "definitely" be ready. But USC has to get there first.

Coach Ray Tanner is expected to address the injury during Thursday's NCAA Regional press conference. The Gamecocks play Manhattan to start the postseason at 4 p.m. on Friday.

It's a tremendous blow to the Gamecocks, who had come to depend on Greiner as their everyday catcher. Brought in as a freshman with huge potential, Greiner was the starter from Day 1 although he was platooning early in the year with Dante Rosenberg.

Greiner took over, starting 42 of his 55 games at catcher (the team has played 57). While his bat has run hot-and-cold, Greiner's defense blossomed late in the year - he cut down 17 of 39 base-stealers, including 8-of-10 at one point lasting into last week's SEC tournament. He was named to the All-SEC Freshman team on Tuesday.

Greiner was batting .236 with six home runs and 31 RBIs as USC leaned on him more and more behind the plate. Despite his inconsistent offense, the freshman's defense was so good that he was chosen for Team USA this summer.

That could be in jeopardy as well, which would be an ironic turn. Christian Walker was chosen for Team USA last year, but had to forfeit his spot when he broke his left hamate before the national championship series (but still played in the two-game set).

With Greiner out this weekend, USC will turn to Rosenberg, who has started 15 of 24 games. Rosenberg is hitting .255 with no homers and seven RBIs.

The only other catchers on the roster are Erik Payne, who began taking reps at third-string catcher during spring practice when it became apparent he wasn't going to play much at third base due to the emergence of LB Dantzler. Payne has played a lot this year, but mostly at second base.

Patrick Harrington can also play catcher, but the redshirt freshman has only played in two games. Injured throughout his two years at USC, Harrington has arm troubles and still has not recovered his complete throwing motion.

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