OMAHA, Neb. — Jayson Gonzalez singled through the infield with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 12th inning, giving Vanderbilt a 7-6 win over Arizona in the College World Series on Saturday night.

Gonzalez grounded a 1-2 pitch beyond diving shortstop Nik McClaughry’s glove to end the first extra-inning game at the CWS since 2014. It lasted four hours, 51 minutes, making it the fourth-longest game in CWS history.

Vince Vannelle worked out of a bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the 11th, but the defending national champion Commodores (46-15) wouldn’t be denied in the 12th.

Isaiah Thomas led off with an infield single and Parker Noland bunted for a hit before Vannelle walked Javier Vaz. Gonzalez then came through for the second time in the game. He had hit a tying home run in the fourth inning.

Chris McElvain (5-1) held Arizona (45-17) scoreless in the top of the 12th after Donta Williams doubled to the wall leading off, getting a flyout and two strikeouts.

The game marked the roughest postseason start for Vanderbilt star Kumar Rocker.

Rocker, projected to be a top-10 pick in the Major League Baseball draft next month, gave up three runs in the first inning and was pulled after Ryan Holgate’s two-run homer in the sixth put the Wildcats up 5-3.

Vandy took a one-run lead in the seventh on Carter Young’s homer into the right-field bleachers, but Williams forced extra innings with a sacrifice fly for Arizona in the ninth.

Rocker walked none and struck out 10 in 5⅔ innings, and two of the five runs against him were unearned.

The 2019 CWS Most Outstanding Player entered the game having won all six of his previous NCAA Tournament starts, allowing three runs in 42⅔ innings.

But he struggled locating his fastball in the first inning, and Arizona’s potent offense capitalized.

Williams reached on an error to start the game, Jacob Berry and Branden Boissiere hit backto-back doubles and Daniel Susac delivered a two-out RBI single to make it 3-0.

Rocker ended the first inning with a strikeout, but not before throwing 36 pitches.

NORTH CAROLINA STATE 10, STANFORD 4

In Omaha, Neb., Jonny Butler homered and drove in a careerhigh five runs, Reid Johnston pitched six strong innings and North Carolina State opened with a 10-4 victory over Stanford.

The Wolfpack (36-18), who knocked out No. 1 national seed Arkansas in the super regionals last week, continued their postseason roll in the first CWS game since 2019. The 2020 event was canceled because of the pandemic.

NC State got out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Butler’s homer to right off Pac-12 pitcher of the year Brendan Beck. After Devonte Brown barely cleared the fence in right-center in the fourth to give NC State at least two homers in 17 of its last 21 games, Butler’s two-run bloop single made it 6-0.

Butler led a Wolfpack offense that finished with 12 hits, including five for extra bases, and capitalized on Stanford’s three errors.

“He’s a model of consistency in everything he does,” NC State coach Elliott Avent said. “Baserunning, outfield play, everything. Some guys like that fly under the radar. It’s hard for Jonny Butler to fly under the radar. People started taking notice of him middle of the season and he’s continuing to play better and better.”

Avent had said before the game that offensive versatility would be important at TD Ameritrade Park, which is not known for surrendering many home runs. Each team homered twice on an 86-degree day with a light breeze.

“The wind was a little friendly today,” Butler said.