N.C. State clinched a spot in the NCAA Super-Regionals after defeating Vanderbilt on Monday in dramatic fashion at Doak Field, winning the Raleigh Regional. Junior outfielder Ryan Mathews can be credited with driving in eight of a combined 56 runs scored by the Wolfpack during the Regional. Mathews finished the regional with nine hits and three home runs. Every time Mathews stepped to the plate, the crowd roared with anticipation of another monster home run or game-changing hit. During the first inning of game one in the regional against Sacred Heart, the Pack had fallen into an early hole, giving up a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Mathews started his unforgettable performance at regionals with a three-run blast to right field, giving State a lead which they never gave up to the Pioneers. Mathews continued on the next game with a loaded bat, homering once again against Vanderbilt. However, it wasn’t enough for the Pack as its would go on to lose its only game during the regional. “The fact of the matter is that we can’t think about it at all,” Mathews said. “We have to put it out of our memory and focus on tomorrow; we don’t have time to do anything else.” And put it out of their mind they did. Facing UNC-Wilmington, it was Mathews who got the Pack on the board early once again by singling to right field and scoring junior shortstop Chris Diaz. By this time in the tournament, teams were starting to become weary of Mathews’s hot streak and began pitching around the junior; Mathews ended up being walked twice during the third game. For the second time in as many games, Mathews recorded an RBI in the first inning, and this time it was against Vanderbilt in a must-win game. With no men on, Mathews homered to left field, which seemed to be his sweet spot throughout the tournament. Giving the Pack the momentum swing once again, the Orlando native put State in front from the get-go.  In the final game of the Raleigh Regional against Vanderbilt – the weekends third game against the Commodores – decided who would face Florida in the Gainesville Super-Regional. The contest started out with both teams matching each other in runs until the third inning when Vanderbilt seemed to pull away. The score was 7-3 at the end of the fifth inning. The Pack players and faithful looked defeated, but the Wolfpack didn’t give up. This was its chance to do something that hasn’t been seen in program history since the 2008 season – make the Super Regionals. “There’s just one thing about this team, we don’t look too far ahead,” Mathews said. “We’re still trying to win each inning and each pitch; nobody ever gave up” State started a rally in the eighth. Mathews reached base during the Pack rally, singling through the left side of the infield. Vanderbilt would face the on-fire Mathews for the last time in the ninth inning and chose to intentionally walk him. The Wolfpack closed the game out in the bottom of the ninth and rushed the mound, clinching the Raleigh Regional Championship and a spot in the Gainesville Super-Regional.   Mathews was electric for the Wolfpack, whether it meant starting a rally or scoring runs in the first couple innings. His unforgettable performance throughout the Raleigh Regional earned him the award of best designated hitter at regionals and the Most Outstanding Player of the regional tournament.