It looks like the pollsters might have misjudged the No. 19 team in the country this week. The Clemson Tigers didn’t quite live up to the hype, but the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame sure did, showcasing a performance that had fans buzzing.
Notre Dame (14-6, 6-3) completed a commanding three-game sweep against Clemson with a 7-4 win on Sunday, following 6-0 and 8-7 victories on Friday and Saturday. This marked their first sweep of a ranked ACC opponent since April 2023 when they took down No. 8 Virginia.
In their third victory over the Tigers (18-7, 1-5), the Irish had to dig deep. Despite being out-hit 13 to 8, Notre Dame capitalized on Clemson's pitching miscues, including three hit-by-pitches and three walks. Sacrifice flies were key, accounting for two of their runs.
Notre Dame’s pitching staff danced around danger, especially from the sixth through ninth innings. The Tigers left seven men on base during this stretch and 12 for the game, only managing to score twice in the ninth when Notre Dame already had a comfortable lead.
Clemson sent 22 batters to the plate over the last four innings but couldn't break through until the ninth, when Notre Dame's cushion was too much to overcome.
Under head coach Shawn Stiffler, Notre Dame showed they were the more disciplined and determined team, earning the sweep. The Irish have been on a roll, going 16-5 in their last 21 games against ACC competition.
Notre Dame set the tone early on Sunday, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning. After Clemson tied it in the third, the Irish responded by scoring two runs in the third, fifth, and sixth innings, maintaining control throughout.
Stanford transfer Ty Uber (4-0) was instrumental, grinding through 89 pitches to notch his fourth win. He struck out six and walked just one, showcasing his resilience.
Freshman Will Jaisle and Noah Rooney handled the middle innings, with Rooney covering three innings despite two errors occurring on his watch. Eli Thurmond, who secured the win on Saturday, closed out the ninth, allowing two runs but sealing the sweep with a strikeout.
Notre Dame's pitchers allowed 38 hits and 18 runs (16 earned) over the series, with 28 strikeouts against 10 walks. This was a marked improvement from the previous weekend against Louisville.
Offensively, Drew Berkland continued to shine from the leadoff spot. He and Noah Coy each had two hits on Sunday, with Coy driving in two runs. Berkland was a consistent force throughout the series, hitting .330 on the season with a double in each game.
Despite some defensive hiccups, Notre Dame’s pitching staff held firm in crucial moments. Their ability to limit Clemson’s scoring chances, especially with runners in scoring position, was pivotal.
The Irish now look to tighten up bullpen consistency, particularly on Saturdays when freshman Caden Crowell takes the mound. With Radel and Uber anchoring the rotation effectively, improving the bullpen could make Notre Dame even more formidable.
Next up, the Irish will host Western Michigan before welcoming No. 14 North Carolina for a weekend series. If they continue this level of play, the Irish could be in for an exciting season.