GRAMBLING, La. (Interstat) — James Woody broke open a tight game with a three-run homer in the third inning and finished with five RBIs as Grambling routed Alabama A&M 13-3 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball game Sunday evening at Memorial Gym.

The Tigers (9-12, 3-0 SWAC) completed a three-game series sweep of the Bulldogs (5-19, 0-3), outscoring them 41-15 over the weekend. The result defied the competitive nature of the first two games, which Grambling won by a combined three runs, and easily surpassed the Interstat game simulator’s projection of a 6-2 Tigers victory.

Alabama A&M struck first, manufacturing a run in the opening inning. Chris Walker walked, advanced to third on two wild pitches by Grambling starter Shaun Mante Jr., and scored on Tervell Johnson’s sacrifice fly.

Grambling answered with two runs in the bottom of the first, capitalizing on a walk, a stolen base, a passed ball and an Alabama A&M fielding error to tie the game 3-3. The critical play was a two-out fielding error by the Bulldogs’ shortstop that allowed Shannon Martin to score the tying run.

The game turned decisively in the third. With two on and two out, Woody launched a three-run homer to left field off Bulldogs starter Brady Baxter, giving Grambling a 6-3 lead it would not relinquish. The hit was a breakout moment for Woody, who had gone hitless in his previous two games.

The Tigers broke the game open with a four-run fourth inning. After a walk and a stolen base by Hasani Johnson and another walk to Trey Bridges, Cameron Hill blasted a three-run homer to left-center. One batter later, Aidan Lopez added a solo shot, prompting a pitching change. Grambling led 10-3 after four.

Alabama A&M’s only sustained offense came in the fifth when Chris Walker hit a two-run homer, scoring Miles Jackson, to cut the deficit to 10-3. The Bulldogs managed just six hits total.

Grambling put the game out of reach in the sixth, scoring three more runs. Chris Marcellus drove in a run with a single, and Woody followed with a two-run double to center, completing his 3-for-4, five-RBI day.

Mante Jr. earned the win for Grambling, allowing three runs on five hits over five innings with two strikeouts. Rafael Capistran provided two scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts. Baxter took the loss for Alabama A&M.

Hill finished 2 for 4 with a homer and three RBIs for Grambling, while Lopez was 2 for 3 with a homer and two RBIs. Walker led Alabama A&M, going 2 for 4 with a homer and two RBIs.

The most important part of the game was Woody’s third-inning homer. With the score tied and two outs, his blast provided Grambling its first lead and shifted all momentum permanently to the home side. It ignited an offensive onslaught that saw the Tigers score in four consecutive innings and transformed a close contest into a lopsided victory, securing the series sweep.

Alabama A&M visits Middle Tennessee on Tuesday. Grambling travels to face Tulane on Wednesday.