In the series opener against NC State in Raleigh, North Carolina, the Notre Dame baseball team faced a disappointing 7-3 loss. The Irish struggled to recover from a recent home sweep by the North Carolina Tar Heels. NC State took an early lead with five runs in the second inning, making it difficult for Notre Dame to mount a comeback. Mason Barth led the Irish offense with a double and two RBIs, while Mark Quatrani hit a solo home run. Despite a strong performance from pitcher Xavier Hirsch, who recorded a career-high 5.0 innings without allowing a run, the Irish could not overcome the deficit. The defeat also marked the end of Drew Berkland's impressive 21-game hitting streak, the longest for Notre Dame since joining the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The Irish, now with a record of 15-10 overall and 6-7 in the ACC, will look to even the series in the second game on Friday night.