CHARLOTTE (Interstat) — Walker Morgan pitched four scoreless innings of one-hit ball and Todd Hudson launched a grand slam in a seven-run seventh inning as Charlotte routed Gardner-Webb 11-1 on Tuesday night at Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium.

The 49ers improved to 26-26, while the Runnin Bulldogs fell to 23-29. Charlotte starter Morgan struck out five, walked none and yielded only a double to G. Sanchez in the fifth. Morgan exited after four innings with a 4-1 lead, lowering his season ERA with his third consecutive scoreless outing.

Gardner-Webb grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first when center fielder C. Carter reached on a dropped fly ball by left fielder T. Hudson, stole third and scored on a fielder’s choice groundout by shortstop A. Agosto. But Charlotte answered immediately in the bottom of the second. Right fielder Alec DeMartino crushed a two-run homer to left center, scoring D. Koontz, who had walked. The blast gave Charlotte a 2-1 lead.

The 49ers added two more in the third. After a walk to R. Nedry and a single by D. Bryce, the Runnin Bulldogs committed an outfield error that allowed a run, and T. Hudson lifted a sacrifice fly to center to make it 4-1.

Gardner-Webb pulled within 4-2 in the sixth. B. Ector singled, advanced to third on a single by Carter, who was thrown out trying to stretch into second, and came home on Agosto’s groundout to short. That was the only run the Runnin Bulldogs managed against reliever Hunter Sloop, who worked two innings and allowed three hits.

Charlotte put the game away with a seven-run seventh inning. With two outs and a runner on third, the 49ers drew four walks and got a two-run single from DeMartino. After a pitching change, Hudson stepped to the plate and launched a 4-0 grand slam to right field, scoring DeMartino, Koontz and Nedry. The blast extended Charlotte’s lead to 9-1. The 49ers added two more in the eighth on an RBI double by C. Gunderson and an RBI double by Koontz.

Charlotte relievers Eddie Copper and Jaden Winter each tossed a scoreless inning. Gardner-Webb used six pitchers, with starter Matt Manley taking the loss after allowing four runs in 2 1/3 innings. Trey Graydon threw three hitless innings, walking one and striking out two.

Hudson finished 1 for 3 with five RBIs, including the grand slam. DeMartino went 2 for 3 with a homer, a single and four RBIs. Koontz walked three times and scored three runs. Charlotte collected nine hits, while Gardner-Webb had five.

The Runnin Bulldogs return home to face Presbyterian in a three-game series beginning Thursday. The 49ers open a home series against Memphis on Thursday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Gardner-Webb 5, Charlotte 7. Interstat’s ELO system gave Charlotte a 77.40 percent probability to win the game.