O’Leary Throws Complete Game Shutout to Open Series with Win Over UConn, 4-0

Friday, April 17

Storrs, Conn. (Elliot Ballpark)

6 p.m.

St. John's University

19-18, 6-1

UConn

20-19, 6-4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
St. John's (N.Y.)	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	1	4	7	0
UConn	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	2

Liam O'Leary had another solid outing, moving to 4-3 on the year.

Photo by: Vincent Dusovic

O’Leary Throws Complete Game Shutout to Open Series with Win Over UConn, 4-0

4/17/2026 9:30:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Liam O’Leary pitches first complete game shutout since Brandon Backman in 2022

STORRS, Conn. – The St. John's baseball team (19-18, 6-1 BIG EAST) opened its conference series with a 4-0 win over UConn (20-19, 6-4 BIG EAST) behind a complete game shutout from Liam O'Leary.

O'Leary turned in a dominant performance, tossing a complete-game shutout without issuing a walk, striking out two and holding the Huskies to just four hits. The junior became the first Johnnie to record a complete-game shutout since Brandon Backman did so against Seton Hall on May 8, 2022.

Ayden Frey led the offense, going 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and a run scored. Jayder Raifstanger, Jon LeGrande and Rob Mansour each drove in a run, while Adam Agresti added a 2-for-4 effort at the plate. In the field, LeGrande anchored the defense with eight putouts, highlighted by a diving grab and a leaping catch near the warning track.

After four scoreless innings, highlighted by a pair of standout catches in center field from LeGrande, the Johnnies broke through in the top of the fifth. Frey led off with a double to left-center, Cristian Bernardini followed with a walk, and Mansour moved both runners into scoring position with a single before being thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. LeGrande brought Frey home on an RBI fielder's choice, with Mansour retired on the play, and Raifstanger drove in Bernardini with an RBI single, advancing to second as LeGrande came around to score on a Huskies error.

A strong defensive performance from the Johnnies kept the Huskies off the board through eight innings. The Red Storm added to its lead in the top of the ninth as Will Cowan drew a leadoff walk and Frey singled through the left side to put runners on the corners. Mansour then lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home Cowan and make it 4-0. In the bottom half, O'Leary took the mound and, backed by his defense, closed out the shutout, going the distance in the 4-0 victory.

The Red Storm will close out the weekend series against UConn with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch from Elliot Ballpark is set for 1 p.m. with game two to follow 45 minutes after the conclusion of game one.