CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Interstat) — The Charlotte 49ers erupted for four runs in the first inning and never looked back, cruising to an 11-1 victory over the Queens Royals in nonconference baseball action Tuesday night at Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium.

The game was effectively decided in the opening frame, as Charlotte sent 10 batters to the plate against Queens starter Avery Booker. Spencer Nolan was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored the tying run on Carson Gunderson’s RBI single. Todd Hudson walked and later scored on a groundout by Ryan Nedry. A wild pitch allowed a third run, and an error by Queens second baseman Hunter Huneycutt enabled a fourth, unearned run to cross, staking the 49ers to a 4-1 lead they would not relinquish.

The most important part of the game was Charlotte’s explosive five-run fifth inning, which turned a comfortable 7-1 lead into a decisive rout. After a walk and a single put runners on second and third, Juan Sutryk’s groundout brought home one run. Nolan then delivered an RBI single to center, making it 9-1. Hudson followed by launching a two-run home run to left-center field, capping the inning and providing the final 11-1 margin.

Charlotte starter Wesley Jones earned the win, working four-plus innings and allowing one run on two hits while striking out four. He was relieved by Chase Carson and AJ Camp, who combined for three scoreless innings of one-hit ball to seal the victory. The 49ers’ pitching staff held the Royals to just two hits total, both coming in the first four innings.

Queens’ lone run came on a solo home run by Mitchell Basterrechea in the top of the fourth inning, briefly cutting the deficit to 6-1. Basterrechea’s blast accounted for half of the Royals’ hits, with Brandon Brown’s first-inning double being the other. Booker took the loss for Queens, charged with four runs, three earned, in two-thirds of an inning.

Offensively for Charlotte, Hudson’s two-run homer highlighted an eight-hit attack. Adrian Jimenez added an RBI double, and Drew Koontz contributed two hits and two RBIs. The 49ers capitalized on eight walks and a hit batter, efficiently turning opportunities into runs.

With the win, Charlotte improved its season record to 16-9. The 49ers will open a three-game home series against South Florida on Friday. Queens fell to 6-18 and will host West Georgia for a three-game series starting Friday. The lopsided result exceeded the projection of Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 5-2 Charlotte victory. The 49ers entered the game with an 85.10 percent probability to win according to the service’s ELO system.