CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Gardner-Webb tied the game at Charlotte in the top of the ninth, but fell 6-5 to the 49ers in a heartbreaker Tuesday on the road.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (15-9) homered three times in the game and led 4-1 after the top of the fifth. Charlotte (11-13) rallied with two runs in the fifth and two more in the seventh to go in front.

Peter Capobianco belted his second home run of the game to lead off the top of the ninth to tie the game and Ryan Kennell followed with a single up the middle to put the go-ahead run on base.

A sacrifice bunt by Jacob Marcos moved Kennell into scoring position, but the 49ers bullpen got out of the jam with the game still tied 5-5.

A leadoff single by Charlotte in the ninth was followed by a walk and – after a fly ball out – the Runnin' Bulldogs loaded the bases intentionally to set up a potential double play. A wild pitch scored the game winner.

Marcos walked to lead off the top of the first and eventually scored the game's first run on a Mark Black sacrifice fly. After Charlotte tied the game in its half of the first, Humberto Torres gave GWU the lead with a solo blast to left – on an 0-2 count – and Capobianco followed with a back-to-back solo shot of his own to make the score 3-1.

Nate Anderson delivered a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth for a 4-1 lead for the Runnin' Bulldogs.

Phil Fox (2-1) took the loss in relief and was the sixth arm Gardner-Webb used on Tuesday. Reid Bertram got the start and earned a no decision after 3.0 innings of work. He allowed just one earned run.

Gardner-Webb had seven hits in the game, with Capobianco (2-for-4, 2 HR, 2 RBI) and Curtis Robison (2-for-5) leading the charge.

Evan Michelson (1-1) picked up a relief win for Charlotte, allowing just one run in an inning of work. The 49ers used five pitchers in the win.

Charlotte also had seven hits, with Jack Dragum going 4-for-5 with a home run and two RBI.

Gardner-Webb will be back in action on Friday, hosting Radford in a Big South game at 6:00 pm (ESPN+).