TROY TROJANS – MONROE – Troy’s second, third place and clean up hitters accounted for seven of the Trojans’ eight hits and scored six runs on Thursday night as they earned a 9-6 win over Florida Atlantic in pool play action at Warhawk Field.

Number two hitter Tyler Hannah had probably the biggest hit of the night with his fifth inning grand slam, but it was Bryant’s triple in the eighth that proved to be the go-ahead run. He also contributed an insurance run in the ninth.

The pair along with third hitter T.J. Rivera were a combined 7-of-12 for the night with three runs and eight RBI for Troy (41-17). Bryant finished a single shy of the cycle and 3-for-4 overall.

Boone Shear had the only other hit and RBI for the Trojans.

Jimmy Hodgskin worked through a jam in the first that was created by a Daniel Peterson three-base error that left Colby Gratton at third with just one down. Hodgskin fielded a comebacker and tossed home for the second out, then registered his first strike out to escape unscathed.

FAU (32-24) converted a Hodgskin walk in the second for the first run of the game. With one out, Joey Burkhalter walked and stole second base. He came around to score on an RBI single to left by Mike Albaladejo for a 1-0 Owls lead.

The Trojans picked up their first hit and first run on one swing with one out in the top of the fourth. Adam Bryant hit a no-doubter to left to score himself and Tyler Hannah. The two-run homer run gave Troy its first lead of the game 2-1.

Hannah’s grand slam off FAU starter Paul Davis gave the Trojans a 6-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning. The blast by the third baseman cashed in three walks in the inning by Davis.

The Owls started the fifth with consecutive hits and walk that loaded the bases for Dan Scheffler. The first baseman popped up to shallow center for the first out and the runner at third was not able to tag. Hodgskin then struck out Alex Hudak for the second out, but walked Nick Delguidice to force home a run and close Troy’s lead to 6-2.

After allowing the walk, Hodgskin gave up a grand slam to Joey Burkhalter to tie the game at six. The freshman rebounded and struck out Sean Bukovich to end the inning with the game tied. The home run was first of the season for Burkhalter and the second of his career.

Hodgskin’s day ended after a walk to start the sixth. He tossed five innings and allowed six runs while walking seven and striking out three.

Bryant’s triple jump-started the eighth inning for Troy and he came in to score on a double by Rivera and give the Trojans a 7-6 lead. The base hit capped a 10-pitch at-bat for the senior infielder from the Bronx, N.Y.

The Trojans then sandwiched a botched bunt attempt with a pair of walks to Shear and Logan Pierce, but Hayden Hillyer and pinch-hitter Kyle Brown came up short to strand the bases loaded with Troy holding a one-run advantage, 7-6.

RBI doubles by Bryant and Shear added a pair of insurance runs for Troy. Hill (5-2) worked around a double in the ninth to retire FAU and earn his fifth win of the year.

The Trojans close out the 2011 Sun Belt Conference tournament on Friday night at 7 pm against WKU.