CHARLOTTE – Gardner-Webb baseball played its sixth game against an NCAA regional team this season on Tuesday night, falling 11-5 at Conference USA member Charlotte.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (2-7) fell behind 4-0 early, with the 49ers (4-3) plating a pair of runs in the third and fourth innings. The home team used a big burst to pull away in the sixth, scoring six runs in that frame to extend its lead to 10-0.

Gardner-Webb responded with a three-run rally in the top of the seventh.

Bo Rusher III led off with a single and slugger Alec Burns blasted a two-run home run to left center – his second two-run blast of the season. A walk to Benino Mendella kept the rally alive and AJ Jones singled through the left side to move Mendella into scoring position.

Both men moved up a base on a wild pitch and Jacob Marcos scored Mendella on a sacrifice fly to right center.

After Charlotte added another run in the bottom of the seventh, Gardner-Webb was able to push two runs across in the top of the ninth on three hits. Diego Santiago singled home Nick Capozzi to cut the lead to 11-4 and Daegan Brady lined out to right for a sacrifice fly that scored Carson Yates for the final margin.

Gardner-Webb had nine hits in the game, with Rusher going 2-for-4 to lead that charge. Burns (1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI) plated a pair of runs for the 'Dogs. Alex Ray, Curtis Robison, Capozzi, Yates, Santiago and Jones also had hits in the game.

The Runnin' Bulldogs used eight arms on a staff day, with Casey Young (0-1) working the first two frames and taking the mound loss. He allowed two runs on four hits in the start.

Charlotte had 11 hits on Tuesday, with Jake Cunningham (4-for-6, 2 RBI) and David McCabe (3-for-3, 2 HR, 4 RBI) leading the way. JD Suarez (1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI).

The Runnin' Bulldogs return home on Friday, beginning a four-game series vs. Dartmouth at 4 pm. The game will stream live on ESPN+.