Bernardini Lifts Baseball in Extra Innings Thriller Over Xavier, 8-6

Saturday, April 25

Cincinnati, Ohio (Hayden Field)

2 p.m.

St. John's University

23-19, 9-2

Xavier

19-25, 9-5

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
St. John's	0	0	1	0	0	0	3	0	1	0	3	8	19	0
Xavier	0	3	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	6	11	0

Bernardini Lifts Baseball in Extra Innings Thriller Over Xavier, 8-6

4/25/2026 7:54:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Red Storm secured the series win in dramatic fashion

CINCINNATI – Facing a four-run deficit early, the St. John's baseball team battled back to claim a critical BIG EAST series against Xavier with a thrilling 8-6 win over 11 innings on Saturday afternoon at Hayden Field. Cristian Bernardini's go-ahead three-run blast gave the Johnnies their lone lead of the contest in the top of the 11th frame.

Using a season-high 19 hits, the Red Storm (23-19, 9-2 BIG EAST) notched its fourth conference series of the season and its second extra-inning win in as many games. Xavier (19-25, 9-5 BIG EAST) nearly tied the contest in the final inning but ultimately fell.

All 10 St. John's batters registered a hit. Bernardini and Will Cowan each recorded a round-tripper, as five Johnnies recorded multi-hit efforts. In addition to Bernardini, Ayden Frey and Lewis Rodriguez led the way with three hits apiece.

The St. John's bullpen asserted its dominance, led by Jack Nestler. The right-hander pitched 4.2 innings of two-hit relief with a game-high five strikeouts. Scoreless appearances from Dylan Johnson, Thomas Harding and Nick Romer helped keep the Musketeers at bay. Romer collected his first collegiate win, as Evan Hoeckele shut the door to earn his third save of the season.

Xavier got on the board in the second inning, pushing three runs across on a two-run homer and an RBI single.

St. John's answered with a run in the top of the third. Lewis Rodriguez singled and moved to third on a fielder's choice. Jayder Raifstanger drove him in with an RBI single, 3-1.

The Musketeers increased their lead in the bottom half of the inning on a solo home run and an RBI single to make it 5-1.

After three scoreless innings, St. John's got back into the contest on a two-run big fly from Cowan. Raifstanger reached first on a dropped third strike and came around to score on an RBI single from Adam Agresti. Cowan unloaded a ball to deep left-center field to pull the Johnnies within one, 5-4.

A scoreless eighth set up a late rally for the Red Storm. A leadoff single from Shaun McMillan started the inning, as Nick Gilpin came in to pinch run. Agresti worked a walk, and with two outs, Frey delivered the game-tying RBI single to score Gilpin and make it 5-5.

Harding came in and struck out a pair to work out of a jam and force extra innings.

Romer entered in the 10th frame and retired the side on just 11 pitches, putting him in line for the win.

In the top of the 11th, St. John's used a two-out single from Cowan and a double from Frey to put runners in scoring position. Turning on a 1-1 pitch, Bernardini uncorked the go-ahead three-run blast for the first lead of the afternoon, 8-5.

Xavier did not go down quietly, plating a run in the bottom of the frame. Hoeckele worked out of trouble to secure the crucial series for the Red Storm.

St. John's will aim for the series sweep tomorrow afternoon. First pitch from Hayden Field is set for 12 p.m.