MONROE, La. (Interstat) — Troy scored six runs in the first two innings and held off a late Louisiana-Monroe rally Thursday afternoon for a 6-4 victory at Warhawk Field in a Sun Belt Conference series opener.

The Trojans improved to 28-26 overall and 26-27 in Sun Belt play, while the Warhawks dropped to 26-27.

The decisive burst came in the top of the first inning. With one out, Troy loaded the bases on singles by Kole Piasecki, Logan Janicki and Steven Meier, the last of which drove in Piasecki for a 1-0 lead. A single by Tucker Nelson loaded the bases, and a hit by pitch to Cade Boroff forced in Janicki to make it 2-0. Sean Darnell then lined a two-run single up the middle, scoring Meier and Nelson, and the Trojans led 4-0.

Troy added a run in the second inning when third baseman Josh Pyne homered to deep left field, his seventh of the season, pushing the lead to 5-0. The Trojans extended the margin to 6-0 in the fifth when Boroff was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded again, scoring Janicki.

Louisiana-Monroe answered in the bottom of the first. Mason Mauzy singled and scored on a single by Jake Haggard to make it 6-1. The Warhawks cut the deficit to 6-2 in the third when Bryce White doubled, moved to third on a wild pitch and later scored on the same wild pitch after Mauzy’s walk and stolen base.

The Warhawks pulled within 6-3 in the sixth. With runners on first and second and one out, Jake Griffith singled up the middle to drive in Dean, who had reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced on a wild pitch. Troy reliever Zach Crotchfelt entered and got a flyout to end the inning.

Louisiana-Monroe made it 6-4 in the eighth. Luke Dean walked, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on a single by Cole Landry. Griffith followed with a single, but Landry was thrown out at third base trying to advance, and the rally stalled.

Troy starter Benjamin Stubbs was the top star for the Trojans, earning the win with a solid outing. The right-hander worked 5 2/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on zero hits while striking out five. It was a bounce-back performance after Stubbs had allowed seven earned runs in four innings against South Alabama on May 8 and five earned runs in six innings against Appalachian State on May 2.

Reliever Dylan Alonso closed the door for Troy, pitching a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts to earn the save.

Pyne finished 2-for-5 with a home run and an RBI. Meier went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a double. Darnell drove in two runs with his first-inning single.

For Louisiana-Monroe, reliever Seth Cooper was effective in relief, tossing 4 1/3 innings, allowing two hits and no earned runs while striking out three. Griffith went 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Haggard had a hit and an RBI.

Warhawks starter Brandt Corley took the loss, allowing six earned runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings with three strikeouts.

The game was played under partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the mid-80s. The series continues Friday and Saturday at Warhawk Field.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Troy 6, Louisiana-Monroe 4, and Interstat’s ELO system gave Troy a 69.70 percent probability to win the game.