Sometime before Thursday's game against Auburn, State College Spikes manager Gary Robinson approached infielders Brock Holt and Ty Summerlin about what their new roles would be for the time being.

Earlier that day, starting shortstop Andy Vasquez was discovered with a limp during workouts and was held out of the lineup.

"Gary called me in, probably about a couple of hours before the game, before we took [batting practice]," Holt said. "So I was able to take ground balls out there with the BP and get ready."

Summerlin found out he would be playing second base from Robinson as well, so he was out there with Holt, taking a few ground balls during batting practice. And when the Spikes took the field Thursday night, there was Holt at short and Summerlin at second.

Since then, all the Spikes have done is go on a three-game winning streak to bring them to .500 for the first time since 2007 after Saturday's win. Needless to say, Holt and Summerlin have adjusted nicely to their temporary new positions.

For Holt, it was a natural adjustment. He was a shortstop at Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas before he went to Rice and was drafted as an infielder. But he hadn't started a game at shortstop in almost a year, back when he was in the Texas Collegiate League.

"It's a little different," Holt said. "The reads are different, the angles off the bat are different. But for the most part, you have to field the ball and throw the ball no matter where you're at. The throw is the biggest thing, you've got more time at second. But I like it over there, and I'll be over there as long as they need me."

Summerlin is listed in the Spikes media guide as a shortstop, but was listed as an infielder by his alma mater, Southeastern Louisiana. But both he and Holt have combined to stabilize the middle of the infield while Vasquez is out of the lineup.

"It's a lot different," Summerlin said. "Second base, you can kind of sit back on balls. Third base, you have to come get a lot of balls, you can't really sit back because it's too far of a throw, so it really ain't that bad."

The pair has been impressive at the top of the lineup the last couple of days. Entering play Sunday, Holt is hitting .357 in his last three games with a home run, three RBIs and two stolen bases, while Summerlin is batting .500 with two RBIs and a run scored.

But Robinson was quick to point out Friday night after the game that Vasquez will get his job back when he's healthy.

"Baseball is a funny game," Robinson said. "They played well because they had that opportunity. We intend to use all of our players."

Robinson indicated Holt might play some at short after Vasquez comes back; he also stated those decisions are made by himself and the player development staff.

"We have a longer-term picture of things," Robinson said, "and we do what we need to do so that one of these days, maybe some of these guys will help the Pirates win a pennant."