The 2026 Notre Dame Irish entered the season with the most preseason hype of any of head coach Shawn Stiffler’s squads, riding a 7‑3 start that featured a sweep of Clemson and a No. 23 national ranking.
A Promising Start Turns Sour
However, the early promise gave way to a five‑game ACC losing streak that dropped the team to a 5‑14 slump over its next 19 contests, a stretch that effectively sealed a fourth straight miss from the NCAA tournament.
Amid the downturn, junior catcher Mark Quatrani provided a bright spot, batting .374 with a .455 on‑base percentage and .644 slugging, while right‑hander Jack Radel continued to lead the rotation with several solid Friday night outings.
Sophomore utility man Bino Watters topped the lineup in hits, and freshman right‑hander Davis Johnson, along with relievers Caden Crowell, Noah Coy, Jayce Lee and Parker Brzustewicz, showed flashes of potential despite the overall slide.
Coach Shawn Stiffler remains focused on development, noting that the young Irish core will look to build on these experiences as they prepare for the next season.