Looking to finally break out of a recent cold streak that dropped the team below .500, Notre Dame baseball welcomed No. 22 Boston College for a three-day weekend series at Frank Eck Stadium from Friday through Sunday. After dominating Friday’s opener, the Irish were blown out on both days of the weekend, securing a fifth consecutive ACC series loss.
Despite the record, Notre Dame had high expectations entering the 2026 season thanks to many strengths across the roster, particularly in pitching depth. The expectations under fourth-year head coach Shawn Stiffler have not been met, as the team is 19-20 overall, 8-16 in ACC play and only has two ACC series remaining before the postseason begins.
Meanwhile, the Eagles, similarly challenged by the northern climate, have put together an impressive resume. At 33-14 overall, including a comfortable 16-8 record in the ACC, Boston College should be a lock for the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
On Friday, Notre Dame earned a 12-2 win in just seven innings, its first in ACC play since April 11. The Eagles scored the first run of the game in the top of the second before junior right-handed pitcher Jack Radel retired nine of the next 10 batters he faced. After the Eagles put the first two batters of the fifth inning on base with consecutive singles, Radel buckled down and stranded the runners to hold the score at 1-0.
Sophomore outfielder Jayce Lee led off the bottom of the fifth with a double down the left field line. He was then driven home by freshman infielder Dylan Passo. Sophomore infielder Parker Brzustewicz kept the line moving, going the opposite way with a double off the base of the wall. Boston College then walked sophomore outfielder Bino Watters before sophomore shortstop Noah Coy ripped a double down the right field line to clear the bases. After the Irish batted around, Passo crushed a 393-foot home run to right field to end the frame with 10 Irish runs.
After BC hit a home run of its own in the top of the sixth, the Irish continued to mash as Watters smoked a 107-mph home run to left field in the bottom half of the inning.
In the seventh inning, freshman outfielder Brandon Logan delivered the final blow with a single to left field to drive in Passo, sealing the 12-2 victory.
Aided by the run-rule, Radel went a complete seven innings on the mound with 11 strikeouts as he earned the win for the Irish. This marked his fourth double-digit strikeout performance of the season.
The Eagles responded to Friday night’s blowout with a dominant 16-1 performance of their own Saturday afternoon. Boston College got things going by blasting four home runs in the top of the third. Freshman left-handed pitcher Caden Crowell provided some momentary relief for the Irish with back-to-back strikeouts, but the damage was already done. With Notre Dame’s offense sputtering, the Eagles scored 10 in the top of the eighth to solidify a run-rule-shortened blowout for the second consecutive day. The 15-run drubbing tied a 20-5 loss to Virginia on April 12 for Notre Dame’s worst defeat of the season.
Sunday’s matinee provided the only close game of the series, with Boston College prevailing 7-6, holding off a furious late Notre Dame rally. Once again starting hot, Boston College kicked off the game with 2 home runs in the top of the first inning. By the top of the third, the Eagles led 4-1.
Showing no signs of quit, from the fourth to the sixth inning, the Irish scored five runs to retake the lead 6-5. The Irish held the lead from the sixth into the top of the ninth until Boston College managed two runs to jump back ahead 7-6. The Irish were unable to find the bats in the bottom, and the blown save cost the Irish both game and the crucial home series.
Graduate infielder Andrew Graham went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run. Outfielder Drew Berkland registered the first multi-home-run game of his career in the setback.
Notre Dame will face Central Michigan Tuesday, April 28, before welcoming Milwaukee the following evening. With just three weeks remaining in the regular season, the Irish will need another late-season push to resurrect their receding NCAA Tournament hopes. After the midweek tests, a critical ACC home series with Stanford awaits this weekend.
