NC State Chops Down Stanford 10-4 in Opening Game of CWS

It was all glory and then a lot of nervous moments, before State slammed the door in the 9th. State opened the College World Series with a 10-4 win over Stanford.

State Takes Out Beck

The biggest key going into the game for State, was the need to get after Stanford’s Beck early…and boy did they ever. Dingers from Butler (who doesn’t suck) and Brown gave State a 6-0 lead. Beck, the PAC-12 Pitcher of the Year, still became one of only 10 pitchers in the last 50 years of the CWS to get 10 K’s in less than 6 innings.

Butler had a hell of a game with five RBI’s. By going 3 for 4 on the day, Butler brought his average up to .385 on the season. He ended with a single, double and home run. Every Wolfpack starter got on base at some point in the game, the team ending with 12 hits and five walks.

State opened up a 6-0 lead on the two homers and singles from McDonough and Butler. Reid Johnston cruised through six innings before a troublesome sixth (Stanford with three runs), chased him. Until that inning, it looked as though Johnston (final line 3 ER / 1 BB / 5 K) could have gone the distance. Instead, Justice came in and took care of business with bases loaded and only one out in the seventh, before going 3 innings with 2 hit and 4 strikeouts.

Late Rally to Close

With the game getting close, State put up a four spot in the ninth. Butler, Tresh and Mensik all with RBI’s in the final frame to close out the Cardinals. In a game that featured two top-10 nationally ranked defenses, it wasn’t the cleanest game. Stanford with three errors and State’s Mensik and Torres with one each. Other than Torres’ error, all others cost their team runs.

State will face Vanderbilt Monday night at 7pm.