St. John’s Opens Weekend Series with Slugfest Win at Xavier, 12-7

Friday, April 24

Cincinnati, Ohio (Hayden Field)

2 p.m.

St. John's University

22-19, 8-2

Xavier

19-24, 9-4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
St. John's	2	0	0	0	1	3	6	0	0	12	15	1
Xavier	2	0	0	0	1	3	0	1	0	7	18	1

Photo by: Vincent Dusovic

St. John’s Opens Weekend Series with Slugfest Win at Xavier, 12-7

4/24/2026 7:05:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

A total of 33 hits was recorded during Friday afternoons tilt

CINCINNATI – In a contest with no shortage of hits and offense, the St. John's baseball team began its three-game series against Xavier with a 12-7 win on Friday afternoon at Hayden Field.

Both squads totaled 33 hits across nine innings. Just as St. John's (22-19, 8-2 BIG EAST) pushed run across the plate, Xavier (19-24, 9-4 BIG EAST) responded to tie the game up until the seventh inning when Red Storm exploded to six runs in the frame. The Johnnies never looked back and held on the lead to secure the series opening win.

The offense was fueled by Will Cowan with a career-high four RBI performance and a 2-for-5 day at the dish with a triple. Adam Agresti and Jon LeGrande each went yard, with Agresti going 2-for-4 and LeGrande going 3-for-5 at the plate, respectively. Four other Johnnies recorded a knock as the team put 15 hits, marking the fifth time the squad has recorded 15 or more for the fifth time this season.

On the mound Liam O'Leary pitch 5.1 innings, allowing five earned runs while striking out five and surrendering no walks. Victor Frederick came in to pitch 3.2 innings of relief to record the win.

St. John's got on the board quickly in the first inning. Following Jayder Raifstanger's walk and with two outs, Agresti sent a ball over the left center field wall for his 15^th big fly of the season to make it 2-0.

The Musketeers responded in the bottom of the frame with two runs of their own to knot the contest at 2-2.

Following three scoreless innings, St. John's tacked on a run in the fifth behind LeGrande's solo shot to right field to make it 3-2.

Xavier once again tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom half of the fifth.

The Red Storm plated a trio of runs in the sixth. After Shaun McMillan singled and Agresti doubled, Cowan ripped a ball to right field to score both runners, 5-3. Ayden Frey got in on the action with an RBI double to center field to make it 6-3.

The Musketeers refused to lay down and matched the three runs to tie to contest for the fourth time at 6-6.

St. John's took the lead for good in the top of the seventh frame with a six-run rally. LeGrande and Raifstanger got rally started with a single and a double to put themselves in scoring position. Following a McMillan hit by pitch, LeGrande scored on a wild pitch to reclaim the lead at 7-6. Agresti was plunked to load the bases and Cowan brought in a pair of runs with a single. Frey cleared the bases with a double, as Rob Mansour put the finishing touches on the rally with a single to make it 12-6.

Xavier recorded a tally in the bottom of the eighth to bring the score to 12-7.

Frederick closed the deal for the Johnnies in the ninth inning to earn his first win of the season.

Red Storm will take on Xavier for game two of the weekend series and aim for its fourth straight BIG EAST series win. First pitch from Hayden Field is set for 2 p.m.