LAKELAND, Fla. --- Jackson Grabsky's tenth inning solo homerun drove the University of West Florida baseball to defeat Florida Southern 7-6 and win the series at Henley Field.
 
After losing an early 4-0 lead, UWF never let up and earned the win over the Mocs. UWF joins three other schools in the conference with a 2-1 record after opening weekend.
 
The offense came together in Sunday's game as four players had two hits and five players tallied one hit. UWF finished with 28 hits over the weekend and held the Mocs to 22 while having .255 hitting average.
 
"These guys showed their toughness and their perseverance," head coach Mike Jeffcoat said. "We came back and answered, and we earned that victory."
 
Tyler Dowdy stepped up to the plate for the first time this season and did the work. In his second appearance at bat, Dowdy rocketed it to right center to earn two RBI and send Jadon Fryman and Jacob Bailey home, who both went 2-for-5 and contributed one run each. In Dowdy's next at bat in the top of the fifth, the rhythm continued as he homered to left field to be involved in three of the current five runs scored – this was the team's first home run of the season.
 
The Mocs responded with a couple runs but UWF always answered. Brooks Mitchell entered to pinch run – after stealing second, he scored on Preston Moore's single to outfield.
 
Entering into the eighth inning, UWF led 6-3 but the Mocs found their way to do damage as they had four hits in the final two innings that resulted in three runs to tie the game. At two outs and a player on third, Bryce Safferwich hit a two-run homer to tie the game just before the final third out.
 
Grabsky then responded with a game-winning homerun and pitcher Jacob Heath (1-0) finished out on the mound and earned the win.
 
UWF makes their way home as their next seven games will be a Jim Spooner Field through Feb. 18. UWF will host Rollins in their season opener next weekend in a three-game series beginning Feb. 10.