St. John's University Athletics
St. John’s to Close 2026 Campaign at Villanova
4/30/2026 1:31:00 PM | Softball
The Red Storm looks to continue its late-season surge against the Wildcats
QUEENS, N.Y. — The St. John's softball team will travel to Villanova this weekend to conclude its 2026 campaign with a three-game BIG EAST series from May 1-3. First pitch from Villanova Softball Complex is set for 3:30 p.m. on Friday.
With a win, the Red Storm would secure the second-most victories in a single season in program history, trailing only last year's program-record 39-win campaign.
St. John's (32-20, 9-12 BIG EAST) enters the weekend riding a five-game winning streak following a 7-3 victory over Wagner on Wednesday in its final home game at Red Storm Field. The Red Storm recorded 12 hits in the contest, marking their eighth double-digit hit performance in the last nine games.
Cassidy Stouffer paced the offense with a 3-for-3 performance and two RBIs, registering her second consecutive three-hit game. The Red Storm have now produced a player with three hits in six consecutive contests.
Jess Bianco continued her standout campaign, tallying two hits and an RBI while tying the program's single-season record with her 73rd hit of the year. London Slade went 2-for-4 with a two-run triple, while Elanna Lysiak also contributed a triple in the victory.
In the circle, Loreley Francia earned the win after allowing three runs on three hits while striking out seven over five innings to improve to 15-9 on the season. Ana Serafinko secured her fifth save of the year, tossing two scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
The Red Storm carry multiple active hitting streaks into the weekend. Natasha Limbani has recorded a hit in 11 consecutive games, while Lysiak owns an eight-game streak. Slade has recorded a hit in five straight contests, and Bianco enters the series with a seven-game hitting streak.
St. John's offense has surged down the stretch, recording double-digit hits in eight of its last nine games. The Johnnies are hitting .315 as a team with 466 hits and 271 runs scored. Bianco leads the BIG EAST with 73 hits, while Slade has recorded 67 hits, ranking second in the conference.
Serafinko continues to be one of the nation's top pitchers in 2026. The southpaw ranks second in NCAA Division I with 259 strikeouts and sits among the nation's top 10 in strikeouts per seven innings (9.9). She leads the BIG EAST in victories (17), strikeouts (259), strikeouts per seven innings (9.9) and innings pitched (184.0), while also pacing the conference in complete games (20) and hits allowed per seven innings (6.13).
Francia has also anchored the Red Storm pitching staff, holding a 15-9 record with 10 complete games, both of which rank second in the BIG EAST, and is tied for the conference lead with four shutouts.
Bianco has cemented her place among the program's all-time greats, becoming the Red Storm's all-time hits leader (241) against Creighton on April 26 before tying the single-season program record with 73 hits on April 29 against Wagner. The senior leads the BIG EAST in hits and ranks 19th nationally.
As a staff, St. John's ranks 10th in NCAA Division I in strikeouts per seven innings (7.58) and 25th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.22), both of which lead the BIG EAST. The Red Storm's 466 hits rank 14th nationally, while Slade ranks 11th in toughest to strike out and Limbani ranks 21st.
St. John's is also one of eight programs nationally to record a triple play this season alongside Boise State, Grambling, Loyola Chicago, Rhode Island, Hampton, CSUN and Yale.
Villanova enters the weekend at 11-39 overall following a 5-0 loss to Lehigh on April 28. The Wildcats hold a 54-41 advantage in the all-time series, though St. John's swept the three-game set in 2025, including an 11-2 run-rule victory in the opener.
Individually, Kat Gallant ranks third in the BIG EAST in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.44), trailing only Serafinko (2.64) and UConn's Jessica Walter (3.88).
All three matchups this weekend will be broadcast on ESPN+, with live stats available on RedStormSports.com.
With a win, the Red Storm would secure the second-most victories in a single season in program history, trailing only last year's program-record 39-win campaign.
St. John's (32-20, 9-12 BIG EAST) enters the weekend riding a five-game winning streak following a 7-3 victory over Wagner on Wednesday in its final home game at Red Storm Field. The Red Storm recorded 12 hits in the contest, marking their eighth double-digit hit performance in the last nine games.
Cassidy Stouffer paced the offense with a 3-for-3 performance and two RBIs, registering her second consecutive three-hit game. The Red Storm have now produced a player with three hits in six consecutive contests.
Jess Bianco continued her standout campaign, tallying two hits and an RBI while tying the program's single-season record with her 73rd hit of the year. London Slade went 2-for-4 with a two-run triple, while Elanna Lysiak also contributed a triple in the victory.
In the circle, Loreley Francia earned the win after allowing three runs on three hits while striking out seven over five innings to improve to 15-9 on the season. Ana Serafinko secured her fifth save of the year, tossing two scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
The Red Storm carry multiple active hitting streaks into the weekend. Natasha Limbani has recorded a hit in 11 consecutive games, while Lysiak owns an eight-game streak. Slade has recorded a hit in five straight contests, and Bianco enters the series with a seven-game hitting streak.
St. John's offense has surged down the stretch, recording double-digit hits in eight of its last nine games. The Johnnies are hitting .315 as a team with 466 hits and 271 runs scored. Bianco leads the BIG EAST with 73 hits, while Slade has recorded 67 hits, ranking second in the conference.
Serafinko continues to be one of the nation's top pitchers in 2026. The southpaw ranks second in NCAA Division I with 259 strikeouts and sits among the nation's top 10 in strikeouts per seven innings (9.9). She leads the BIG EAST in victories (17), strikeouts (259), strikeouts per seven innings (9.9) and innings pitched (184.0), while also pacing the conference in complete games (20) and hits allowed per seven innings (6.13).
Francia has also anchored the Red Storm pitching staff, holding a 15-9 record with 10 complete games, both of which rank second in the BIG EAST, and is tied for the conference lead with four shutouts.
Bianco has cemented her place among the program's all-time greats, becoming the Red Storm's all-time hits leader (241) against Creighton on April 26 before tying the single-season program record with 73 hits on April 29 against Wagner. The senior leads the BIG EAST in hits and ranks 19th nationally.
As a staff, St. John's ranks 10th in NCAA Division I in strikeouts per seven innings (7.58) and 25th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.22), both of which lead the BIG EAST. The Red Storm's 466 hits rank 14th nationally, while Slade ranks 11th in toughest to strike out and Limbani ranks 21st.
St. John's is also one of eight programs nationally to record a triple play this season alongside Boise State, Grambling, Loyola Chicago, Rhode Island, Hampton, CSUN and Yale.
Villanova enters the weekend at 11-39 overall following a 5-0 loss to Lehigh on April 28. The Wildcats hold a 54-41 advantage in the all-time series, though St. John's swept the three-game set in 2025, including an 11-2 run-rule victory in the opener.
Individually, Kat Gallant ranks third in the BIG EAST in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.44), trailing only Serafinko (2.64) and UConn's Jessica Walter (3.88).
All three matchups this weekend will be broadcast on ESPN+, with live stats available on RedStormSports.com.
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
SS
/ Softball
3B/OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
MIF
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