St. John's University Athletics
Thursday, May 9
Providence, R.I. (Glay Field)
7 p.m.
St. John's University
31-26
12
vs
2
Butler
23-29
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4
5
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H
E
BUTLER
0
0
0
2
0
2
5
3
St. John's
0
7
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12
12
0
No. 5 St. John’s Topples No. 6 Butler, 12-2, Advances to Play No. 3 Creighton
5/9/2024 10:09:00 PM | Softball
The Red Storm exploded for the program’s most runs in BIG EAST Tournament history to take down the Bulldogs
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The St. John's softball team toppled the sixth-seeded Butler Bulldogs, 12-2, in five innings on Thursday night. The Johnnies now advance to take on third-seeded Creighton tomorrow at 3 p.m. in the 2024 BIG EAST Softball Championships presented by JEEP.
The Red Storm (31-26, 13-11 BIG EAST) produced 12 runs in the win, marking its highest total in a BIG EAST Tournament game in program history. St. John's has now totaled 23 runs in three games this tournament, signifying its highest amount across a conference tournament ever.
With the win, the Johnnies have accumulated 31 wins over the course of the 2024 campaign. The win total marks the third-highest total in program history and is just one shy of tying the record of 32 wins that was accomplished in both the 1990 and 2017 seasons.
The Johnnies' offense exploded for a seven-run second inning before tacking on another in the third to go up eight runs. Butler (23-29, 11-13 BIG EAST) responded with two runs of its own in the fourth, but St. John's answered right back by plating four more in the home half to enforce the run-ahead rule after the top of the fifth.
After starting the first two games of the tournament inside the circle, Ana Serafinko made her presence felt in the batter's box against the Bulldogs. The two-way star dilled her fifth home run of the season along with an RBI double in the win.
Loreley Francia recorded her team-high 14th win on the rubber, allowing just two earned runs while striking out five batters in the full five innings of work. The sophomore now has a 2.74 ERA and 149 strikeouts across 138 innings this year.
Freshman London Slade continued her impressive tournament run, tallying three RBIs to bring her total to five across the three games. The Bowie, Md., product entered the tournament with just one RBI in her career.
Second baseman Cassidy Stouffer notched two RBIs for the Red Storm, tying Slade for the team-high in the tournament with five. Stouffer has had an impressive sophomore season, batting .287 with 13 doubles and 28 RBIs in 2024.
Catcher Katie Whittaker reached base twice in the contest, securing her first RBI in the tournament with a single to start the scoring in a seven-run second inning.
Sydney Totarsky, Anese Thompson and London Jarrard all chipped in two hits apiece to help pace the Red Storm offense.
After a scoreless first, the Red Storm struck first in the bottom of the second, loading the bases behind a pair of singles by Totarsky and Thompson along with an Amy Mallah hit-by-pitch. Whittaker then lined the third hit of the frame back up the middle to give St. John's the 1-0 advantage. With no outs in the inning still, Stouffer and Slade drew back-to-back walks to bring home two more, 3-0. Butler then recorded a double play before the Bulldogs made two errant throws on a pick-off attempt to plate two more runs, 5-0. The Johnnies were not done as Jarrard lined a single through the right side ahead of Serafinko blasting a two-run homer over the right-field wall to provide the Red Storm with a commanding 7-0 lead.
Francia continued to set the tone for St. John's, tossing her third consecutive blank frame while punching out her third batter in as many innings to hold the seven-run advantage.
Mallah led off the home half of the third, reaching second after Butler committed its third throwing error of the contest. Stouffer then lined a sharp single into left before Slade produced a productive groundout, bringing home Mallah and increasing the Red Storm's edge to 8-0.
Butler finally cracked the scoreboard in the top of the fourth after Makena Alexander delivered a pinch-hit two-RBI single back up the middle, cutting into the lead and making the score 8-2.
St. John's responded right back in the home half when Jarrard led off with her second base hit of the contest before Serafinko brought her around again on a double into the left-center field gap, 9-2. Lysiak then pinch-ran for Serafinko ahead of Thompson hitting an infield single to put two on. A Butler passed the ball then allowed Lyisak to cross the plate, 10-2. Mallah and Whittaker followed up with a pair of walks to load the bases for Stouffer and Slade who each notched a pair of RBI singles, 12-2.
In the top of the fifth, Francia shut the door on Butler, stranding runners on second and third to secure the 12-2 victory for the Red Storm.
St. John's now advances to take on three-seeded Creighton at 3 p.m. tomorrow in another elimination game. The game will be broadcast on FS2 and live stats will be provided on RedStormSports.com. If the Johnnies win, they will advance to take on the loser of top-seed Villanova and two-seed UConn directly after at approximately 6 p.m.
The Red Storm (31-26, 13-11 BIG EAST) produced 12 runs in the win, marking its highest total in a BIG EAST Tournament game in program history. St. John's has now totaled 23 runs in three games this tournament, signifying its highest amount across a conference tournament ever.
With the win, the Johnnies have accumulated 31 wins over the course of the 2024 campaign. The win total marks the third-highest total in program history and is just one shy of tying the record of 32 wins that was accomplished in both the 1990 and 2017 seasons.
The Johnnies' offense exploded for a seven-run second inning before tacking on another in the third to go up eight runs. Butler (23-29, 11-13 BIG EAST) responded with two runs of its own in the fourth, but St. John's answered right back by plating four more in the home half to enforce the run-ahead rule after the top of the fifth.
After starting the first two games of the tournament inside the circle, Ana Serafinko made her presence felt in the batter's box against the Bulldogs. The two-way star dilled her fifth home run of the season along with an RBI double in the win.
Loreley Francia recorded her team-high 14th win on the rubber, allowing just two earned runs while striking out five batters in the full five innings of work. The sophomore now has a 2.74 ERA and 149 strikeouts across 138 innings this year.
Freshman London Slade continued her impressive tournament run, tallying three RBIs to bring her total to five across the three games. The Bowie, Md., product entered the tournament with just one RBI in her career.
Second baseman Cassidy Stouffer notched two RBIs for the Red Storm, tying Slade for the team-high in the tournament with five. Stouffer has had an impressive sophomore season, batting .287 with 13 doubles and 28 RBIs in 2024.
Catcher Katie Whittaker reached base twice in the contest, securing her first RBI in the tournament with a single to start the scoring in a seven-run second inning.
Sydney Totarsky, Anese Thompson and London Jarrard all chipped in two hits apiece to help pace the Red Storm offense.
After a scoreless first, the Red Storm struck first in the bottom of the second, loading the bases behind a pair of singles by Totarsky and Thompson along with an Amy Mallah hit-by-pitch. Whittaker then lined the third hit of the frame back up the middle to give St. John's the 1-0 advantage. With no outs in the inning still, Stouffer and Slade drew back-to-back walks to bring home two more, 3-0. Butler then recorded a double play before the Bulldogs made two errant throws on a pick-off attempt to plate two more runs, 5-0. The Johnnies were not done as Jarrard lined a single through the right side ahead of Serafinko blasting a two-run homer over the right-field wall to provide the Red Storm with a commanding 7-0 lead.
Francia continued to set the tone for St. John's, tossing her third consecutive blank frame while punching out her third batter in as many innings to hold the seven-run advantage.
Mallah led off the home half of the third, reaching second after Butler committed its third throwing error of the contest. Stouffer then lined a sharp single into left before Slade produced a productive groundout, bringing home Mallah and increasing the Red Storm's edge to 8-0.
Butler finally cracked the scoreboard in the top of the fourth after Makena Alexander delivered a pinch-hit two-RBI single back up the middle, cutting into the lead and making the score 8-2.
St. John's responded right back in the home half when Jarrard led off with her second base hit of the contest before Serafinko brought her around again on a double into the left-center field gap, 9-2. Lysiak then pinch-ran for Serafinko ahead of Thompson hitting an infield single to put two on. A Butler passed the ball then allowed Lyisak to cross the plate, 10-2. Mallah and Whittaker followed up with a pair of walks to load the bases for Stouffer and Slade who each notched a pair of RBI singles, 12-2.
In the top of the fifth, Francia shut the door on Butler, stranding runners on second and third to secure the 12-2 victory for the Red Storm.
St. John's now advances to take on three-seeded Creighton at 3 p.m. tomorrow in another elimination game. The game will be broadcast on FS2 and live stats will be provided on RedStormSports.com. If the Johnnies win, they will advance to take on the loser of top-seed Villanova and two-seed UConn directly after at approximately 6 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Francia, Loreley (14-8)
L: DYER, R. (1-8)
Batting:
2B: WHITE, E. 1
RBI: ALEXANDER, M 2
SH: O'RILLEY, T. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: WHITE, E. 1 ; ROBERTS, O. 1
SB: LEHNER, C. 1
Batting:
2B: Serafinko, Ana 1
HR: Serafinko, Ana 1
RBI: Serafinko, Ana 3 ; Whittaker, Katie 1 ; Stouffer, Cassidy 2 ; Slade, London 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Jarrard, London 2 ; Serafinko, Ana 1 ; Lysiak, Elanna 1 ; Totarsky, Sydney 1 ; Thompson, Anese 1 ; Sterling, Paige 1 ; Mallah, Amy 3 ; Whittaker, Katie 1 ; Stouffer, Cassidy 1
SB: Stouffer, Cassidy 1
HBP: Mallah, Amy 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
MIF
/ Softball
C/1B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C/UT
/ SoftballSt. John's Softball Highlights at UConn 5.4
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St. John's Softball vs Villanova Highlights Game 3 4.27.25
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St. John's Softball vs Villanova Game 2 Highlights 4.25.2025
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St. John's Softball vs Villanova Game 1 Highlights 4.25
Friday, April 25