Jonny Butler had a home run among his three hits and drove in five runs as North Carolina State defeated Stanford 10-4 on Saturday in the opening game of the 2021 College World Series at Omaha, Neb.
Butler hit a two-run home run in the first inning and added a two-run single in the fourth as the Wolfpack took a 6-0 lead. Devonte Brown also hit a home run for N.C. State (36-18), going deep in the fourth.
The Wolfpack moved into the winner’s side of the four-team Bracket 1 and will play again Monday against the winner of the Vanderbilt-Arizona matchup later Saturday.
Tim Tawa and Christian Robinson hit home runs for the Cardinal (38-16), who rallied to within 6-4 in the seventh inning before N.C. State blew the game open with four runs in the ninth.
N.C. State’s Reid Johnston (9-3) gave up three earned runs over six innings with five strikeouts to pick up the victory. Stanford’s Brendan Beck (9-2) gave up six runs (three earned) over 5 2/3 innings while striking out 10 to take the loss.
–Field Level Media