Few opening weekends in recent memory were more anticipated than the one this year for Notre Dame baseball. After improbably reaching the College World Series last year and hiring new head coach Shawn Stiffler in the offseason, the Irish took the field on Friday with plenty of excitement behind them. Fifty hours later, hope turned to concern as Lipscomb took two of three games from Notre Dame in Nashville, Tennessee. The Irish fell 5-4 on Friday, battled to an 8-4 win Saturday, then crumbled late in Sunday’s 4-2 loss.
Notre Dame softball visited Clemson for its second weekend of action, competing against Ohio State and No. 14 Northwestern. The Irish beat the Buckeyes in Friday’s opener but dropped the final three games of the event. The weekend began positively, as the Irish hit OSU well and tested the Wildcats. However, ND’s final 11 innings in Clemson revealed where it can improve most. Reflecting on the four-game set, head coach Deanna Gumpf appreciated the opportunity in front of her team.
Solutions by The State News
