What once seemed a dream season for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is quickly becoming another nightmare for head coach Shawn Stiffler. On Thursday, Stiffler’s squad lost its fourth straight game (all ACC contests) and must regroup quickly to maintain hopes for an at-large bid in the regionals.
Pitching has been a real problem for Notre Dame, and it was again on Thursday. In the 7-3 loss to the Wolfpack, starter Caden Crowell lasted just two innings before allowing 7 hits and 5 runs and getting chased. Those five runs were enough for NC State to get the series-opening win.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are now 15-10 (6-7 in the ACC) after a red-hot start had them looking like Stiffler had finally gotten the program headed in the right direction after two lost seasons. They’ll continue the series against North Carolina State on Friday and Saturday, hoping to end their slide.
More Notre Dame Fighting Irish news
- Not everyone on the baseball team is struggling. Earlier this week, pitcher Jack Radel was named to the 2026 Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List. As of the March 31 NCAA Division I statistical rankings, Radel ranked seventh in WHIP (0.76), 23rd in strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.71), 24th in hits allowed per nine innings (5.27) and 26th in total strikeouts (54). The Sioux Falls, South Dakota native was also ranked among the nation’s leaders in walks allowed per nine innings (1.54), earned run average (2.41), and strikeouts per nine innings (11.85).
- Speaking of awards, Notre Dame Fighting Irish star Hannah Hidalgo has nabbed two awards this week. On Wednesday, the guard won the Nasmith Defensive Player of the Year. She is the first ND player to ever win that award. On Thursday, Hidalgo was named the WBCA Coaches’ Defensive Player of the Year as well as a WBCA All-American.
- The departure of Audi Crooks from Iowa State has some people thinking that Hannah Hidalgo might follow suit and seek a big payday from another school. While it seems unlikely the star guard would leave, Notre Dame fans will be watching closely.
- Of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish athletes who have departed, Kenny Minchey is making a name for himself. The quarterback transferred to Kentucky this offseason, and his new head coach can’t stop singing his praises. Should Will Stein be right about his talent, Minchey could have a big season in store.