St. John’s Falls to Creighton, 10-8, in BIG EAST Tournament Opening Round

Wednesday, May 21

Mason, Ohio (Prasco Park)

2:30 p.m.

St. John's University

29-23

No. 1 Creighton

39-14

St. John's

Creighton

St. John’s Falls to Creighton, 10-8, in BIG EAST Tournament Opening Round

5/21/2025 7:35:00 PM | Baseball

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Jayder Raifstanger went 4-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs

MASON, Ohio – The fourth-seeded St. John's baseball team (29-23, 13-8 BIG EAST) fell to first-seeded Creighton (39-14, 17-4 BIG EAST), 10-8, on Wednesday afternoon in the first round of the BIG EAST Baseball Championship presented by JEEP at Prasco Park in Mason, Ohio.

Jayder Raifstanger had a perfect day at the plate, going a career-best 4-for-4 with two free passes and a home run on Wednesday. The sophomore third baseman also added two RBIs and two scores.

Jon LeGrande tallied three hits against the Bluejays, including a solo homer, with three RBIs and a tally. Jackson Tucker scored a run alongside belting a double.

Jared Beebe batted in a trio of runs on a double and three walks at Prasco Park. The senior has now tied Mike Dzurilla's single-season doubles record of 24, set during the 1999 season.

Creighton opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Matt Scherrman hit a solo home run to center field, followed by a runner reaching on a single. A base hit brought him home, giving the Bluejays the first lead of the day, 2-0.

Following a 1-2-3 second frame for both teams, the Red Storm put itself in the score column in the top of the third stanza. After falling behind 0-2 in the count, LeGrande crushed a towering home run 400 feet over the right field fence, cutting the Johnnies' deficit in half, 2-1.

St. John's knotted the contest up in the away side of the fourth. Adam Agresti led off the inning by working a six-pitch walk, ahead of Luke Orbon reaching on Creighton's second error of the game. The two runners moved over on a sacrifice bunt, before Agresti came into score on a LeGrande RBI groundout, tying the game 2-2.

Just after Evan Chaffee's second 1-2-3 frame of the ballgame, the Red Storm grabbed the lead in the top half of the fifth inning. Raifstanger used a full 3-2 count to find his pitch, slugging a go-ahead homer 411 feet over the right-center field video board, providing the Johnnies a slim 3-2 edge.

In the bottom side of the fifth frame, the Bluejays retook the lead. Nate McHugh started the rally by taking a hit-by-pitch and working himself around the bases on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout. An RBI single and a two-run long ball from Nolan Sailors allowed Creighton to grab the advantage back, 5-3.

The Johnnies countered by scoring a run for the fourth consecutive inning in the top half of the sixth. Anthony Brienza and Tucker kicked off the side with a pair of walks, putting two runners on base. Raifstanger then smacked an RBI single through the right side, his third hit of the day, which plated Brienza to trail by one, 5-4.

Creighton posted a run in the flipside of the sixth. A Bluejay reached second base on a Red Storm defensive miscue before he was sent home on an RBI double, pushing Creighton's lead back to two, 6-4.

In the first half of the seventh, the Red Storm added a tally to their score. Orbon reached on a fielder's choice and found himself on second base after a Brienza single. Orbon was then waved home as LeGrande struck an RBI base knock up the middle to trail by one yet again, 6-5.

The Bluejays posted a three-spot in the home side of the seventh inning. Creighton capitalized on a two-run double, in front of another player scoring on a wild pitch. In the penultimate frame, the Bluejays added another run to go ahead, 10-5.

In the top of the ninth, Brienza worked a walk and Tucker reached on a fielder's choice. Raifstanger was then plunked, loading the bases for Beebe, who doubled down the left-field line to score both Brienza and Tucker. A Bluejay error proceeded to bring Raifstanger home. The Red Storm's rally came to an end, as Creighton took the first game of the BIG EAST Baseball Championship, 10-8.

The Red Storm will return to the diamond tomorrow to square off with the loser of tonight's contest between second-seeded UConn and third-seeded Xavier. First pitch from Prasco Park is slated for 2:30 p.m.