NC State jumped on Stanford early, held on after a shaky seventh and then used a big ninth inning to prevail over the Cardinal 10-4 in the opener of the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.

NC State junior leftfielder Jonny Butler started the game with a bang, hitting a two-run homer to right in the top of the first. Butler would finish the contest with a career-high five runs batted in.

Junior rightfielder Devonte Brown also homered, and NC State junior starter Reid Johnston went six-plus innings before handing the ball to redshirt junior closer Evan Justice.

The Pack led 6-0 before Stanford scored four straight runs, three of them coming in the bottom of the seventh when the Cardinal left the bases loaded. NC State batted around the order in the ninth to score four runs and pull away for the 10-4 victory.

Up next, the Wolfpack will face the winner of Vanderbilt-Arizona, which will be played Saturday evening, on Monday evening.

We'll have updates throughout the game here.

Stanford's leadoff hitter third baseman Drew Bowser singled to lead off the ninth, and then an easy double-play ball was mishandled by Pack freshman shortstop Jose Torres.

Then runner's interference became an automatic double play ends the contest.

NC State 10, Stanford 4

Sophomore centerfielder Tyler McDonough led off the ninth legging out a double on the first pitch of the inning. He would score when junior left fielder Jonny Butler singled, giving Butler five RBI in the game.

After a throwing error on a potential double-play grounder from junior designated hitter Terrell Tatum set up sophomore catcher Luca Tresh's one-out RBI double to score Butler.

That led to another pitching change for the Cards with Joey Dixon coming in, and he walked junior right fielder Devonte Brown to load the bases. Sophomore third baseman Vojtech Mensik then hit a two-run single to left, scoring Tatum and Tresh.

Junior second baseman J.T. Jarrett walked to re-load the bases, leading to the second pitching change of the inning. Austin Weiermiller.

Weiermiller struck out junior first baseman Austin Murr and then got McDonough to pop out to left.

NC State 10, Stanford 4

A 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts for Pack junior closer Evan Justice, the latter K coming on a close full count pitch.

NC State 6, Stanford 4

Stanford's sidearm throwing closer Zach Grech enters the game for the Cards.

Sophomore third baseman Vojtech Mensik hit a ground-rule double after Stanford right fielder Christian Robinson seemed to misplay the spin on the fly ball. Mensik advanced to third on a groundout by junior second baseman J.T. Jarrett.

A groundout to first however stranded Mensik there.

NC State 6, Stanford 4

Stanford catcher Kody Huff led off the inning with an infield single to third on a close play held up on review. That set up right fielder Christian Robinson's two-run homer.

First baseman Nick Bauser singled on the next pitch, spurring Pack redshirt junior lefty Evan Justice to begin warming up in the bullpen. Third baseman Drew Bowser then hit a hard single up the middle, bringing Justice into the game.

After a strikeout, Stanford loaded the bases on a line drive single from shortstop Adam Crampton. Another strikeout made it two outs, but a hard-hit grounder by second baseman Tim Tawa could not be handled by sophomore third baseman Vojtech Mensik, scoring Bauser.

An infield pop out ended the damage.

NC State 6, Stanford 4

Junior left fielder Jonny Butler drew a leadoff walk. He advanced to second on a fielder's choice groundout by freshman shortstop Jose Torres, but he would be stranded there.

NC State 6, Stanford 1

A very quick inning with three groundouts on six pitches for Pack starter junior Reid Johnston.

NC State 6, Stanford 1

A loud first out for NC State as junior right fielder Devonte Brown nearly had his second homer of the game but instead had his long fly ball caught near the wall in deep left.

Junior second baseman J.T. Jarrett drew a two-out walk to end Stanford ace Brendan Beck's afternoon after 5.2 innings. Junior first baseman Austin Murr was able to work a walk himself. The inning ended on a fielder's choice groundout to short.

NC State 6, Stanford 1

A two-out single proved harmless as Reid Johnston struck out a pair of batters to give him five for the game.

NC State 6, Stanford 1

A quick 1-2-3 for the Wolfpack in the fifth, as Stanford starter Brendan Beck reaches 10 strikeouts for the game.

Stanford second baseman Tim Tawa delivered Stanford its first hit of the game by crushing a leadoff, solo homer to left. However, Pack junior righty Reid Johnston quickly settled down to get the next three outs on soft contact.

NC State 6, Stanford 1

Junior right fielder Devonte Brown, who has been busy in the outfield, showed off his power with an opposite field solo shot to lead off the fourth. Sophomore third baseman Vojtech Mensik then reached via an error for the second time, this one on a fielding miscue from second baseman Tim Tawa.

Mensik moved to second on a wild pitch, but he got caught in a rundown on junior second baseman J.T. Jarrett's groundout to first. Junior first baseman Austin Murr then singled to left. After a pop out, Jarrett and Murr executed a double steal to move both into scoring position.

Junior left fielder Jonny Butler then drove in RBIs No. 3 and 4 in the game for him with a bloop single to right. Butler was picked off at first to end the inning.

NC State 6, Stanford 0

A scary pop-up to shallow right led to a near collision between Pack junior second baseman J.T. Jarrett and junior right fielder Devonte Brown, but Brown was able to make the catch without an incident.

A four-pitch, two-out walk gave Stanford its first baserunner of the game, but a fly out to right ends the inning without any damage.

NC State 3, Stanford 0

For the first time in the game, NC State's batters went down in order as eight of the nine outs thus far have been strikeouts for Stanford ace Brendan Beck. That said, Beck is over 60 pitches thrown through his three innings.

NC State 3, Stanford 0

Another 1-2-3 inning for Pack junior righty Reid Johnston, thanks to junior right fielder Devonte Brown making a nice diving catch to end the frame.

NC State 3, Stanford 0

With one out, sophomore third baseman Vojtech Mensik hit a swinging bunt, but Stanford catcher Kody Huff's throwing error allowed Mensik to reach second. Junior first baseman Austin Murr then reached on a two-out walk.

Sophomore centerfielder Tyler McDonough then scored Mensik on a single to right.

NC State 3, Stanford 0

A smooth 1-2-3 for junior pitcher Reid Johsnton, who started the game with a pair of strikeouts before getting a ground out to first to end the inning.

NC State 2, Stanford 0

On the first pitch of the game, NC State junior first baseman Austin Murr singled up the middle off Stanford ace Brendan Beck. The hurler responded by striking out sophomore center fielder Tyler McDonough.

Murr then stole second with one out, and scored on redshirt junior left fielder Jonny Butler's homer to right to put the Pack up 2-0.

A two-out single to left by freshman shortstop Jose Torres extended the inning but Beck's third strikeout ended the frame.

NC State 2, Stanford 0

——

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