St. John's University Athletics
Friday, February 27
Lexington, Ky. (Kentucky Proud Park)
4 p.m.
St. John's University
1-7
1
at
3
Kentucky
7-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
St. John's
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
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1
Kentucky
0
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
X
3
6
1
St. John’s Falls in Series Opener at No. 22 Kentucky, 3-1
2/27/2026 7:28:00 PM | Baseball
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The St. John's baseball team fell in a tightly contested series opener at No. 22 Kentucky on Friday evening at Kentucky Proud Park.
The Wildcats (7-2) loaded the bases in back-to-back innings, but Liam O'Leary was able to help the Red Storm (1-7) get out of the jam both times.
Ayden Frey went 1-for-3 with a single and scored a run, while Jayder Raifstanger went 1-for-4. Jon LeGrande drew a walk and stole a base.
O'Leary pitched a season-high 6.0 innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs while striking out four batters. Jack Nestler pitched 2.0 innings of no-hit relief.
Kentucky opened the scoring in the bottom half of the second inning with a solo home run. The Wildcats tacked on another run in the bottom of the fourth, 2-0.
After loading the bases, Kentucky crossed home plate on a fielder's choice to add its final run of the night to make it 3-0. O'Leary loaded the bases once more but thwarted the momentum with a flyout to end the fifth inning.
St. John's rallied in the top of the eighth frame to get on board late in the contest. After a Frey single and Adam Agresti was hit by a pitch, Chaz Wright entered to pinch hit and reached on an error to bring home Frey, 3-1. The Red Storm bats came up short to give the Wildcats a 3-1 series opening win.
The Johnnies are back in action tomorrow for game two of the three-game set at Kentucky. First pitch from Kentucky Proud Park is set for 1 p.m.
The Wildcats (7-2) loaded the bases in back-to-back innings, but Liam O'Leary was able to help the Red Storm (1-7) get out of the jam both times.
Ayden Frey went 1-for-3 with a single and scored a run, while Jayder Raifstanger went 1-for-4. Jon LeGrande drew a walk and stole a base.
O'Leary pitched a season-high 6.0 innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs while striking out four batters. Jack Nestler pitched 2.0 innings of no-hit relief.
Kentucky opened the scoring in the bottom half of the second inning with a solo home run. The Wildcats tacked on another run in the bottom of the fourth, 2-0.
After loading the bases, Kentucky crossed home plate on a fielder's choice to add its final run of the night to make it 3-0. O'Leary loaded the bases once more but thwarted the momentum with a flyout to end the fifth inning.
St. John's rallied in the top of the eighth frame to get on board late in the contest. After a Frey single and Adam Agresti was hit by a pitch, Chaz Wright entered to pinch hit and reached on an error to bring home Frey, 3-1. The Red Storm bats came up short to give the Wildcats a 3-1 series opening win.
The Johnnies are back in action tomorrow for game two of the three-game set at Kentucky. First pitch from Kentucky Proud Park is set for 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jaxon Jelkin (3-0)
L: O'Leary, Liam (0-2)
S: Jack Bennett (2)
Base Running:
RUNS: Frey, Ayden 1
SB: LeGrande, Jon 1
HBP: Agresti, Adam 1
Batting:
2B: Tyler Cerny 1
HR: Tyler Cerny 1
RBI: Tyler Cerny 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Jayce Tharnish 1 ; Tyler Cerny 1 ; Carson Hansen 1
SB: Jayce Tharnish 2 ; Carson Hansen 1 ; Scott Campbell Jr. 1
HBP: Scott Campbell Jr. 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C/1B
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
INF
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