Redhawks' Cummings is among OVC offensive leaders

Tyrell Cummings expected to have a strong rookie season for the Southeast Missouri State baseball team.

What Cummings said he didn't expect was to be among the Ohio Valley Conference's top home run hitters.

"I'm usually not a home run hitter," Cummings said. "This is the most I've ever hit."

Barely halfway through the season, the junior college transfer outfielder already has hit 10 homers to become the first Southeast player since 2003 to reach double figures.

But Cummings has not been a feast-or-famine slugger.

Cummings also leads the Redhawks with 43 runs batted in, 13 doubles and 35 runs scored, while ranking second on the squad with a .345 batting average.

"He's just been a wonderful addition to our club," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan, whose 16-16 Redhawks play a nonconference game tonight at 16-24 Arkansas State. "He's having a fabulous season."

KIT DOYLE ~ kdoyle@semissourian.com Junior Tyrell Cummings connected with a pitch early in the game Friday afternoon, February 29, 2008, during the Redhawks' home opener against Northern Colorado at Capaha Park.

Cummings is among the OVC's top sluggers, ranking second in homers, second in RBIs, second in doubles, second in total bases (92) and third in slugging percentage (.648). His .436 batting average in OVC games ranks third in the conference.

Along with all that pop, the 6-foot, 205-pound Cummings also has proven to be a skilled and versatile defensive player.

Cummings, who played mostly right field early in the season but primarily has been in center the past several weeks, has only committed one error and has come up with some highlight-reel plays.

"He's a great outfielder with a great arm," Hogan said.

Except for the home runs, Cummings has played to his own expectations.

"I'm not [surprised]," said Cummings, who has a three-homer game to his credit this year, against OVC opponent Murray State. "If you're working hard, everything will take care of itself. I'm just seeing the ball well and doing what I can do."

Cummings, a native of Muskogee, Okla., transferred to Southeast from Seminole State (Okla.) College.

As a sophomore at Seminole State last season, Cummings hit .351 with eight homers, 20 doubles and 49 RBIs to earn all-conference honors.

Since Cummings competed in a respected junior college league, Hogan expected him to make an immediate impact with the Redhawks.

"He played in a very good league, and we thought he would be an impact player for us," Hogan said. "You can see why we were so excited when we signed him."

Cummings said he also considered attending Oral Roberts in his native Oklahoma, along with McNeese State in Louisiana. But Cummings said he fell in love with Southeast when he visited.

"It was a great atmosphere. I really liked it here," he said. "And I wanted to get away."

Cummings is part of a power-packed Southeast lineup that leads the OVC with 44 home runs, which is one fewer than the Redhawks hit last year.

Returning standouts Matt Wagner and Nick Harris both have eight homers, which ties them for third most in the OVC.

"We've got some guys with some pop," Hogan said. "We're having a good offensive year."

Leading the way is Cummings, who said he is enjoying the fact he has established himself as one of the OVC's premier sluggers, but refuses to get carried away.

"It's a good feeling, but I try not to let it get to my head," he said.

Rematch tonight

When Southeast and Arkansas State square off at 6:30 p.m. in Jonesboro, Ark., it will be a rematch of the April 9 game in Cape Girardeau that the Redhawks lost 8-3.

That started a six-game losing streak for Southeast, which has rebounded with two straight wins. The Redhawks are a fourth-place 7-6 in the 10-team OVC.

Since beating Southeast, Arkansas State has dropped six of its last seven. The Indians are a 10th-place 5-13 in the 11-team Sun Belt Conference.

Hogan said he was undecided who would be Southeast's starting pitcher tonight.