Red Storm Set to Host Wagner in Final Home Game of 2026 Season

Wednesday, April 29

Queens, N.Y. (Red Storm Field)

2 p.m.

St. John's University

Wagner

Red Storm Set to Host Wagner in Final Home Game of 2026 Season

4/28/2026 2:00:00 PM | Softball

Watch Link (ESPN+)Live Stats Game Notes (PDF)

St. John’s will take on Wagner before closing out the campaign at Villanova

QUEENS, N.Y. — The St. John's softball team will host local foe Wagner in its final game at Red Storm Field of the 2026 campaign on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. in Queens. The contest will be broadcast on ESPN+, with live stats available on RedStormSports.com.

St. John's holds a 20-5 advantage in the all-time series against Wagner and claimed last season's meeting, 9-0, in six innings at Wagner Softball Field.

The Johnnies (31-20, 9-12 BIG EAST) enter the midweek matchup following a dominant three-game sweep of Seton Hall on senior weekend. The Red Storm combined for 15 runs on 22 hits across the series-opening doubleheader before capping the weekend with a 10-5 victory in the finale.

Loreley Francia tossed a complete-game shutout in game two of Saturday's doubleheader, marking her fourth of the season. Jess Bianco led the offense with five hits and three runs scored, while London Slade recorded four hits, three runs and two RBIs. Natasha Limbani added three hits and notched her third straight game with three hits in the opener, while Sarah Post drove in five runs across the two contests. Ana Serafinko earned the game one win and launched her own two-run homer to end game two.

After sweeping the series-opening doubleheader, Head Coach Michelle DePolo crossed the 30-win mark for the third consecutive season. DePolo has now tallied 30 wins or more every season since taking over in 2023, including a program-best 39-win campaign in 2025.

In the series finale, St. John's tallied 10 runs on 14 hits. Cassidy Stouffer led the offense with a 3-for-4 performance and three RBIs, both season highs, while Serafinko earned her 17th win after a complete-game effort.

Limbani extended her hitting streak to 10 games, while Elanna Lysiak carries a seven-game streak into Wednesday's contest. Slade has recorded a hit in four straight games, and Bianco enters on a six-game hitting streak.

Limbani earned her second consecutive Weekly Honor Roll placement after batting .706 (12-for-17) with four multi-hit games, four RBIs and four runs scored.

Serafinko was named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week for the fourth time this season on April 27 after going 3-0 with a 1.94 ERA over 18.0 innings, striking out 29 with two complete games. Serafinko's four Pitcher of the Week nods matches the program record she set in 2025.

The Chino Hills, Calif., native continues to be one of the country's top arms in 2026. The southpaw ranks second in NCAA Division I with 255 strikeouts and sits among the nation's top 10 in strikeouts per seven innings (9.8). She leads the BIG EAST in victories (17), strikeouts (255), innings pitched (182.0), complete games (20) and hits allowed per seven innings (6.23).

Francia has also anchored the Red Storm pitching staff, holding a 14-9 record with 10 complete games, both of which rank second in the BIG EAST, and is tied for the conference lead with four shutouts.

As a staff, the Red Storm ranks among the nation's best, sitting 10th in NCAA Division I in strikeouts per seven innings (7.51) and 25th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.22), both of which lead the BIG EAST.

Offensively, St. John's is hitting .313 as a team with 453 hits and 264 runs scored. Bianco leads the BIG EAST with 72 hits, while Slade has added 65 hits, which is tied for second in the conference. The Red Storm's hit total ranks 18th nationally, while Slade ranks 11th in toughest to strike out and Limbani ranks 23rd.

Wagner enters the midweek matchup after splitting a doubleheader with FDU, falling 6-2 in game one before responding with a 5-4 victory in the nightcap.

The Seahawks' pitching staff leads the NEC in ERA (4.04), WHIP (1.59) and hits allowed per seven innings (8.53). Wagner also ranks first in the conference in strikeout-to-walk ratio (1.98) and strikeouts per seven innings (5.13), and has posted five shutouts this season, tied for the league lead.

Individually, Karson Zavala leads the NEC in strikeouts (108), strikeouts per seven innings (8.0) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.27).

Following the home finale, the Red Storm travel to Villanova for a three-game BIG EAST series to close out the 2026 campaign. All three contests will broadcast on ESPN+, with live stats available on RedStormSports.com.