St. John’s Split Doubleheader and Takes Series Victory Over UConn

Saturday, April 18

Storrs, Conn. (Elliot Ballpark)

1 p.m.

St. John's University

20-18, 7-1

UConn

20-20, 6-5

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
St. John's (N.Y.)	0	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	3	6	14	1
UConn	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	2	0	5	12	1

St. John’s Split Doubleheader and Takes Series Victory Over UConn

4/18/2026 7:14:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score 1 (PDF)Box Score 2 (PDF)

The Red Storm move to 7-2 in conference play

STORRS, Conn. – The St. John's baseball team (20-19, 7-2 BIG EAST) split Saturday's conference doubleheader, taking a come-from-behind win in game one, 6-5, but falling in game two 10-0 to UConn (21-20, 7-5 BIG EAST).

Lewis Rodriguez led the way in game one, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored, three stolen bases and an RBI. Jon LeGrande also had a strong outing, going 3-for-5 with one run, an RBI and a triple. Rob Mansour and Dylan Fitzsimmons both tallied doubles while joining Jayder Raifstanger and Shaun McMillan in securing an RBI.

In game two, six Johnnies contributed a hit, including a late Agresti double, but the Red Storm bats fell short, unable to bring any runs across.

On the mound, Evan Chaffee delivered 5.2 solid innings, allowing two earned runs in while striking out three in game one. Evan Hoeckele and Victor Frederick provided key relief, with Hoeckele taking the win and Fredrick locking down the save over a combined 3.1 innings of work.

In the second game, Ian Mowad and Jack Nestler both sent 2.0 innings on the bump with Mowad earning the start. Dylan Johnson and Tyler Longoria closed out the contest for the Johnnies.

GAME 1: St. John's 6, UConn 5

Both sides threatened early, but both Chaffee and UConn's Cayden Suchy worked out of the opening frame, each recording a strikeout to escape unscathed.

St. John's broke through in the second when Cristian Bernardini delivered a two-out single to right-center and came around to score on a deep RBI double to left by Mansour. Mansour was cut down trying to stretch the hit into a triple, but the Red Storm still grabbed a 1-0 lead.

The Johnnies added to their advantage in the third as Rodriguez led off with an infield single off the pitcher and hustled to beat the throw. After stealing second, Rodriguez and Raifstanger executed a double steal to move into scoring position. A passed ball allowed Rodriguez to come home, extending the lead to 2-0.

UConn responded in the fourth, capitalizing on a St. John's error to make it 2-1. The Huskies continued their push in the sixth, tying the game on an RBI single before taking a 3-2 lead on a sacrifice bunt.

St. John's answered right back in the seventh. Rodriguez singled and swiped second to set the table, and Raifstanger followed with an RBI single up the middle to plate the tying run and even the score at 3-3.

UConn regained the lead in the bottom of the eighth, using an RBI single through the right side to push ahead, 5-3.

St. John's mounted a dramatic rally in the ninth. Fitzsimmons came off the bench to pinch hit for Mansour and laced a deep double to left center. He came around to score on an RBI single to right-center by Rodriguez. With one out and Rodriguez aboard, LeGrande drove a triple into the right-center gap to bring him home and knot the score at 5-5. McMillan followed with a go-ahead RBI single up the middle, plating LeGrande to give the Red Storm a 6-5 edge.

The Johnnies shut the door in the bottom half, highlighted by a clutch throw from Agresti to catch a runner stealing and a diving line-drive catch by Frey for the final out, sealing the 6-5 victory and the series win over UConn.

GAME 2: UConn 10, St. John's 0

UConn opened the scoring in the bottom of the second in game two, jumping out to a 2-0 lead behind an RBI single to right and a balk. St. John's threatened in the third but couldn't capitalize.

The Huskies broke things open in the third, putting up four runs on a pair of singles while taking advantage of Red Storm miscues to extend the lead to 6-0.

UConn added on in the fourth with two more runs, coming on a sacrifice fly and an RBI single. The Huskies stretched the margin to 10-0 in the sixth with a two-run double, and after holding St. John's scoreless in the seventh, secured the run-rule victory to earn the shutout and avoid the sweep.

Following Saturday's doubleheader, St. John's will continue on the road, heading to Rutgers for a non-conference midweek. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. from Piscataway, N.J.