Game Thread | (G2) No. 2 Clemson at Notre Dame

No. 2 Clemson (26-3, 8-2) at Notre Dame (14-13, 2-11)

When: April 6th

Time: 5:30 PM ET 

Where: Frank Eck Stadium | South Bend, Ind. 

Watch: ESPN2 

QUICK FACTS

- Clemson leads the all-time series 16-14

- Notre Dame swept the Tigers in 2022 at Frank Eck Stadium.

- The Irish rank No. 2 in the nation in fielding percentage at .985 entering this weekend. 

- INF Connor Hincks ranks No. 2 in the ACC in triples with three. 

- Clemson has won 15 regular season series in a row. 

- The Tigers took game one 7-3. 

PROBABLE STARTERS

SATURDAY 

SUNDAY 

WHAT TO WATCH

Notre Dame had Clemson on the ropes on Friday night but once again failed to make game-winning plays late in the game. Matt Bedford held the Tigers scoreless through 4.2 innings, which included giving up just two hits to the No. 2 ranked team in the country. 

Ricky Reeth entered the game in the top of the seventh for Nate Hardman with Notre Dame leading 3-1. The Irish gave up four runs in the eighth and then Clemson got two insurance runs in the top of the ninth to put it away. 

To start the eighth, Reeth gave up a single, threw a wild pitch, a double, a groundout and then another double before Will Taylor hit a two-run homer. Notre Dame’s pitching staff has to pull pitchers much quicker when they don’t have it. Reeth has pitched well at times this season, but on Friday, he simply didn’t have it. There is no harm in going to the next guy. 

Notre Dame didn’t pull him and Reeth gave up four runs in the eighth to lose the lead, but then the staff rolled him back out in the ninth, which started with a walk and then another home run to put the game away. Reeth got two outs and then was replaced by David Lally Jr., who threw just three pitches before picking a runner. It’s just hard to understand the rotations at times. 

The Irish didn’t hit the ball extremely well, but they controlled the game for seven innings. Notre Dame’s season-long issues also continued to show up. Notre Dame had the bases loaded in the seventh with a chance to take back momentum, but Connor Hincks struck out. In the eighth, Simon Baumgardt was standing on third and Brady Gumpf struck out swinging. 

For the game, Notre Dame batted just .206 and .143 with runners in scoring position, including 0-for-2 with runners on third with less than two outs. Estevan Moreno did get a two-out double in the second inning to score two runs, but that was the only hit Notre Dame recorded with two outs. 

Moreno continued his hot streak going 2-for-4 with two doubles. David Glancy started the scoring with his 10th home run of the year in the first. 

Graduate transfer Josh Hahn was put back in the lineup as the DH, but he went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts. Notre Dame was back to playing three catchers in the same game as Joey Spence started, Carson Tinney pinch hit and caught before DM Jefferson pinch hit for him and then Tony Lindwedel replaced him behind the dish. 

Midseason freshman All-American Jack Radel will start for Notre Dame today and either the bullpen needs to finish or the bats need to get going a little bit more. Friday was a game Notre Dame should have won, but they failed to make key plays in game situations. That separates teams from being 26-3 and 14-13. 

NOTRE DAME LINEUP

CLEMSON LINEUP

OFFENSIVE STATS (Entering the weekend)

PITCHING STATS (Entering the series) 

Under Armour Heathered Navy Notre Dame Fighting Irish Play Like A Champion Today Cotton Performance T-Shirt