Role reversal pays off in victory

Freshman Shae Simmons strictly had been a reliever all season while senior Kyle Gumieny strictly had been a starter until a few weeks ago.

Those two pitchers switched roles Saturday to help give Southeast Missouri State a much-needed 2-1 win in the seven-inning nightcap of a doubleheader with Austin Peay.

"Both guys threw outstanding," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan, whose team dropped the nine-inning opener 8-4 to mark its sixth loss in seven games before Simmons and Gumieny helped right the ship.

Simmons, from nearby Scott City, has been among the Ohio Valley Conference's premier relievers during his rookie season of college baseball.

Simmons entered the weekend 3-1 with five saves and a 1.91 ERA as Southeast's closer. He had allowed just 11 hits in 28 1/3 innings spanning 22 appearances, all out of the bullpen.

Shae Simmons

But several of Southeast's starters have struggled lately, making it difficult for the Redhawks to get the ball to Simmons with a late lead.

"We need to get our best players on the field," Hogan said. "I didn't want to have Shae on the bench all weekend and maybe not get to use him."

So Hogan made the decision late in the week to give Simmons his first college start. He was excited but also a bit apprehensive.

"I hadn't done it in a while, of course. I was a little nervous," Simmons said. "But I figured I'd do all right."

Simmons, Southeast's hardest thrower who likely will turn into a full-time starter down the line for the Redhawks, did more than all right. He allowed two hits and an unearned run in five innings while striking out three and walking one.

"Shae has exceptional stuff. He doesn't pitch like a freshman," Hogan said. "That guy goes out on the mound and gets after it. He settled down a team that scored eight runs in the first game."

Hogan thought it was the right time to take out Simmons in a 1-1 game after he had thrown 83 pitches. Simmons didn't argue with the decision.

"It's been a while since I'd thrown that many pitches," said Simmons, who worked five innings in relief at Mississippi State in early March for his previous longest stint of the season. "But it was fun. We needed a win."

Simmons lowered his ERA to a microscopic 1.35, which would lead the OVC by a lot if he had enough innings to qualify. He is fourth in the league in saves and has struck out 37 against 16 walks in 33 1/3 innings.

"He just goes out and does his job," junior left fielder Michael Adamson said.

The same can be said for Gumieny, who was a conference starter all of last season and Southeast's No. 1 starter for much of this year before being moved to the bullpen a few weeks ago.

"I'm just here to win ballgames. However coach wants to use me, I'm fine with it," said Gumieny, who joined Southeast last year after transferring from junior college.

Gumieny notched the victory with two shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking out one. He is 8-1 and ranks second in the OVC in wins.

"I thought Kyle really threw well," said Hogan, who appreciates Gumieny's team-first attitude. "All the experience he's had, he's handled it [the relief role] like a champion."

Gumieny very well could be called upon to start before the season is over, either next weekend in the final regular-season series at Eastern Illinois or during the OVC tournament.

But Saturday he was happy to help the Redhawks pick up an important win.

"It's huge momentum for us right now, to pull out a win in conference," Gumieny said.