Tom Hatcher and William Block led Florida Atlantic with nine home runs each. David Wilson belted seven. None of those three, however, will be swinging for FAU during the Sun Belt Conference Home Run Derby to be held Tuesday at Troy.

Instead, FAU coach John McCormack tabbed Jeremy Griffiths, who hit three of his five home runs on the season over the final weekend against Florida International.

McCormack decided to let the ballpark dictate his choice. According to McCormack, Troy's field is more conducive to home runs to right field, which suits left-handed power hitters better.

He was leaning toward having Criaris take his hacks before the left-handed hitting catcher injured a muscle in his side on Sunday.

"(Griffiths is) one of the more consistant guys in BP in hitting them out," McCormack said. "It won't show it from his stats, but he is."

Griffiths struggled at the plate much of the season but appeared to be coming out of his slump during the season's final weeks. McCormack was concerned that swinging for the fences might alter Griffiths' swing for the tournament, but the senior right fielder assured him that wouldn't be the case.

"We called him last night before we put his name in and said, 'If this is going to get you going in the wrong direction, then we won't do it," McCormack said. "And he was like, 'No I'm fine.'"

Former Owl Mike McKenna won the contest last season.

The eighth-seeded Owls hope to begin their Sun Belt Tournament run on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. against top-seeded Middle Tennessee.

Check back with FAUOwlAccess.com for complete previews before the tournament and game coverage during the event.

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