The Notre Dame Fighting Irish baseball team's season has gone from one that looked almost certain to include at least making a regional to another nightmare. In the process, onlookers have to be wondering whether this will be head coach Shawn Stiffler's final year in South Bend.
On Tuesday Night, the Irish suffered a midweek loss to a very mediocre Michigan State squad. If that wasn't bad enough, the defeat was the 7th straight loss. Six of those losses were to ACC teams, essentially ending any chance of making a run in the conference.
On the season, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish baseball team fell to just 15-13 after starting the campaign 11-4. There's still plenty of season left. Stiffler's squad has time to turn it around and go on another run. But this mid-season 4-9 stint has fans once again wondering if Stiffler is the right man for the job.
More Notre Dame Fighting Irish news
- While it's all bad news for the Notre Dame baseball team these days, the women's basketball squad got some very good news on Thursday evening. Star guard Hannah Hidalgo is returning for a final season. Already considered one of the best in the sport, she's looking to build on a season where Niele Ivey's team finally got past the Sweet 16.
- The Notre Dame men's basketball team is looking to rebuild without most of its best players. To that end, head coach Micah Shrewsberry has a very big visit on tap for the weekend. Wright State star Michael Cooper could be a nice replacement for Markus Burton. In his freshman season, Cooper averaged 13.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting 44.3% from the field. He also shot 36% from beyond the arc and nabbed nearly a steal a game.
- The Notre Dame lacrosse team is continuing to heat up at just the right time. Earlier this week, they knocked off No. 1 Richmond. This Saturday, they'll take on the new No. 1 in North Carolina. Should the Irish win that match, they'll almost certainly slide into the top spot in the country with just a few weeks to go in the regular season.
- Speaking of Markus Burton, the guard has a couple of visits set up after entering the Transfer Portal earlier this week. He's expected to check out the Indiana Hoosiers and the Houston Cougars. Needless to say, fans are hoping he won't stay in-state, just for petty reasons.
- While Hannah Hidalgo is staying, Cassandre Prosper is leaving. The senior guard had her best season ever, averaging 13.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. She's hoping to now make a name for herself in the WNBA and has officially declared for the draft.
- On Thursday, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish basketball team lost another man off its roster, though this one wasn't someone they expected back anyway. Kebba Njie has declared he's entering the portal. He's technically out of eligibility, but apparently thinks only playing 17 games due to injury might get him another year. If it does, it won't be in South Bend.