Notre Dame Baseball Hosts Ranked Clemson in ACC Home Opener

Irish seek first home conference series win against No. 19 Tigers

Mar. 19, 2026 at 4:05am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

After a postponed midweek game, Notre Dame baseball hosts the 17-4 Clemson Tigers, ranked No. 19 nationally, in a three-game ACC series at Frank Eck Stadium this weekend. The Irish, 11-6 overall and 3-3 in conference play, look to start their home ACC campaign strong against the Tigers, who have dominated the series in recent years, winning 7 of the last 9 matchups.

Why it matters

This series is an important early-season test for the Irish as they try to establish themselves as a contender in the competitive ACC. A series win over the highly-ranked Tigers would be a major boost for Notre Dame's postseason hopes and validate their strong start to the season.

The details

Clemson will likely start ace right-hander Aidan Knaak on Friday, who has had some early struggles this season after a strong 2025 campaign. The Tigers will also throw lefty Michael Sharman and righty Drew Titsworth in the Saturday and Sunday games, respectively. Offensively, Clemson is led by leadoff hitter Jarren Purify and catcher Nate Savoie, who is having a monster season at the plate. Notre Dame will counter with a lineup that scored 33 runs last weekend against Louisville and will look for more quality innings from starters Jack Radel and Ty Uber after short outings last series. The Irish bullpen will also need to step up and protect late leads after some recent struggles.

  • The series opener is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 22.
  • Saturday's game is set for 2 p.m.
  • The series finale is on Sunday at 1 p.m.

The players

Aidan Knaak

Clemson's ace right-hander who was an All-ACC First Team selection the past two seasons, but has struggled to a 0-2 record and 5.29 ERA so far in 2026.

Michael Sharman

Clemson left-hander who has been stellar this season, posting a 1.47 ERA with a 29-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 30.2 innings.

Drew Titsworth

Clemson junior right-hander who has worked his way back from an early-season injury and will start Sunday's game against the Irish.

Jarren Purify

Clemson's leadoff hitter who has reached base at a .478 clip and drawn 15 walks this season.

Nate Savoie

Clemson catcher who is batting .408 with 9 home runs and 31 RBIs, providing a powerful presence in the middle of the Tigers' lineup.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must find a way to slow down Clemson's offense this weekend. Their lineup is very talented, and we'll need to pitch well and play solid defense to have a chance to win this series.”

— Shawn Stiffler, Notre Dame Head Coach

What’s next

If Notre Dame can take the series against the highly-ranked Tigers, it would be a major boost to their NCAA Tournament resume and confidence heading into the heart of the ACC schedule.

The takeaway

This weekend's series against Clemson represents a crucial early-season test for Notre Dame as they look to establish themselves as a contender in the ACC. A series win over the 17-4 Tigers would be a significant accomplishment and provide a major lift to the Irish's postseason aspirations.