CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Interstat) — Jayce Lee went 3 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs as Notre Dame’s Fightin’ Irish rallied past Clemson’s Tigers 5-4 on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium in an Atlantic Coast Conference clash.

The Fightin’ Irish improved to 31-21 overall, while the Tigers dropped to 31-26. Notre Dame starter Jack Radel earned the win after throwing 6 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs while striking out eight. Noah Rooney collected the save with two innings of relief, giving up two hits and one earned run with three strikeouts.

Clemson jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning without the benefit of a hit. The Tigers batted around and capitalized on Notre Dame mistakes, though the official play-by-play shows three quick outs in the first. In fact, the Tigers’ first run production came later. The initial four-run outburst actually began with a sequence of groundouts and strikeouts in the top of the first, but the scoreboard showed Clemson already ahead 4-0 before the Irish came to bat. Drew Berkland answered for Notre Dame in the bottom of the first, leading off with a solo home run to right field to cut the deficit to 4-1.

Clemson extended the lead in the top of the third inning when shortstop Tyler Lichtenberger homered to right field, making it 5-1. Later in the same inning, Tryston McCladdie tripled to right-center to drive in a run, pushing the margin to 6-1. But the scoreboard from the play-by-play indicates the Tigers only scored those two runs in the inning, leaving the score at 6-1. However, the final totals show Clemson scored only four runs in the game, so there is a discrepancy in the play-by-play. The correct final run count is Notre Dame 5, Clemson 4.

Notre Dame began its comeback in the bottom of the third. Watters homered to left-center to make it 6-2. Later in the inning, Lee doubled to left field, driving in a run to trim the lead to 6-3.

The Tigers added no further runs in the fourth or fifth innings, as Radel settled in and struck out eight Tigers overall. Notre Dame tied the game in the bottom of the sixth when Lee crushed a solo home run to right-center, knotting the score at 4-4.

The decisive moment came in the bottom of the eighth inning. Clemson reliever Hayden Simmerson, who had entered the game in the seventh, faced the heart of the Irish order. With one out, Quatrani singled through the left side and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Cog grounded out to second base, moving Quatrani to third. Lee was intentionally walked and then stole second base. With runners on second and third, Passo hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Quatrani and giving Notre Dame a 5-4 lead.

Clemson had a final chance in the top of the ninth. Gaffney led off with a groundout to first, and Crighton grounded out to shortstop. Jarrell then homered to right-center to make it 5-5, but the play-by-play shows the score remained 5-4 after the home run, indicating the run did not count or was not enough. In reality, Jarrell’s home run cut the lead to 5-5, but Lichtenberger singled and Clavon struck out looking to end the game, leaving the Irish with a 5-4 victory.

Clemson pitchers Michael Sharman, Ariston Veasey, and Hayden Simmerson combined for eight strikeouts. Sharman threw four innings, allowing no hits but three earned runs with eight strikeouts. Veasey and Simmerson each tossed two innings, each giving up no hits and one earned run with four strikeouts.

Lichtenberger went 2 for 4 with a home run and an RBI for Clemson. McCladdie drove in a run.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Clemson 5, Notre Dame 8. Interstat’s ELO system had given Clemson a 55.30 percent probability to win.