St. John's University Athletics
Friday, May 29
Tallahassee, Fla. (Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium)
5 p.m.
St. John's University
vs
Florida State
Photo by: D'Andra Seymore / BIG EAST
St. John’s to Open 2026 NCAA Tournament against No.10 National-Seed Florida State at Tallahassee Regional
5/28/2026 2:20:00 PM | Baseball
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Red Storm and Seminoles will square off on Friday at 3 p.m. on the ACC Network
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The St. John's baseball team will make its 39th appearance in the NCAA Tournament when it begins the Tallahassee Regional on Friday against the 10th national-seed Florida State.
The Johnnies earned the automatic bid after winning the program's conference-leading 11th BIG EAST Tournament Championship on Sunday.
The Red Storm and Seminoles will square for the fourth time ever and first time in a decade. First pitch on Friday is set for 3 p.m. The game is set to air on ACC Network with Daron Vaught and Devon Travis on the call from Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium.
In addition to the Seminoles, the Red Storm is joined by second-seeded Coastal Carolina and third-seeded Northern Illinois in Tallahassee, Fla. Coastal Carolina will face off against Northern Illinois on Friday evening at 8 p.m.
The double-elimination regional continues on Saturday, May 30, with an elimination game at 1 p.m. before the winner's-bracket contest at 6 p.m. Sunday's games also are at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. If necessary, the two regional finalists will play another game on Monday at a time to be determined. TV designations for the games beyond Friday also will be determined once each matchup is set.
St. John's will enter Friday's regional matchup with a record of 33-24 and winners of seven in its last nine games. The Red Storm used a perfect 3-0 showing in the BIG EAST Tournament to secure a spot in NCAA Regionals. The Johnnies' 39th NCAA Tournament appearance ranks tied for 12th all-time in NCAA Division I baseball history and the most by any team in the Northeast region.
St. John's won seven conference series' its highest total since 2012 and finished with a record of 15-6 in league play. Led by Friday ace and unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selection Liam O'Leary, the Red Storm saw seven players named to an All-BIG EAST Team, the highest number in eight years. Head Coach Mike Hampton and his staff were named the 2026 BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year.
The Johnnies outscored their opponents 26-11 during the conference tournament slate, as O'Leary, Will Cowan, Shaun McMillan, Jayder Raifstanger and Lewis Rodriguez were named to the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team.
Florida State earned a postseason berth for the 62nd time in team history, second-most in NCAA Division I, and will host an NCAA Regional for the 38th time. After finishing third in the ACC, the Seminoles were 19-11 with eight series wins in conference play and hold a 27-4 mark at home this season.
The last time the Red Storm and Seminoles faced off was in a three-game set from March 4-6, 2016. After falling in the first two games, St. John's picked up a 5-1 victory to close the series.
The Johnnies will compete in their second-ever NCAA Regional in Tallahassee. The Red Storm went 1-2 in the 1991 Atlantic Regional at Dick Howser Stadium.
St. John's and Coastal Carolina have met seven times on the diamond previously with the Chanticleers leading the all-time series, 4-3. The Johnnies won the last meeting to open the 2017 campaign on Feb. 20, taking down the defending national champions and then-No. 9 Coastal Carolina, 7-4, in extra innings. Current Red Storm Assistant Coach John Valente notched three hits, two runs and an RBI in that contest.
The two programs have met once previously in the NCAA Tournament 19 years ago. Coastal Carolina defeated St. John's, 6-5, on June 3, 2007, in the Myrtle Beach Regional in an elimination game.
St. John's and Northern Illinois have only squared off once, with St. John's taking the lone meeting. The Red Storm defeated the Huskies, 11-9, in extra innings in Lubbock, Texas on Feb. 25, 2012. The Huskies qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1972, after winning the MAC Championship for the first time.
The winner of the Tallahassee Regional will take on the winner of the Tuscaloosa Regional next weekend.
2026 NCAA TALLAHASSEE REGIONAL
Friday, May 29
Game 1: #1 Florida State vs. #4 St. John's - 3 p.m. - ACCN
Game 2: #2 Coastal Carolina vs. #3 Northern Illinois - 8 p.m. - ESPN+
Saturday, May 30
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 - 1 p.m.
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 - 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 31
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 - 1 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5 - 6 p.m.
Monday, June 1
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (TBA - IF NECESSARY)
The Johnnies earned the automatic bid after winning the program's conference-leading 11th BIG EAST Tournament Championship on Sunday.
The Red Storm and Seminoles will square for the fourth time ever and first time in a decade. First pitch on Friday is set for 3 p.m. The game is set to air on ACC Network with Daron Vaught and Devon Travis on the call from Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium.
In addition to the Seminoles, the Red Storm is joined by second-seeded Coastal Carolina and third-seeded Northern Illinois in Tallahassee, Fla. Coastal Carolina will face off against Northern Illinois on Friday evening at 8 p.m.
The double-elimination regional continues on Saturday, May 30, with an elimination game at 1 p.m. before the winner's-bracket contest at 6 p.m. Sunday's games also are at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. If necessary, the two regional finalists will play another game on Monday at a time to be determined. TV designations for the games beyond Friday also will be determined once each matchup is set.
St. John's will enter Friday's regional matchup with a record of 33-24 and winners of seven in its last nine games. The Red Storm used a perfect 3-0 showing in the BIG EAST Tournament to secure a spot in NCAA Regionals. The Johnnies' 39th NCAA Tournament appearance ranks tied for 12th all-time in NCAA Division I baseball history and the most by any team in the Northeast region.
St. John's won seven conference series' its highest total since 2012 and finished with a record of 15-6 in league play. Led by Friday ace and unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selection Liam O'Leary, the Red Storm saw seven players named to an All-BIG EAST Team, the highest number in eight years. Head Coach Mike Hampton and his staff were named the 2026 BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year.
The Johnnies outscored their opponents 26-11 during the conference tournament slate, as O'Leary, Will Cowan, Shaun McMillan, Jayder Raifstanger and Lewis Rodriguez were named to the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team.
Florida State earned a postseason berth for the 62nd time in team history, second-most in NCAA Division I, and will host an NCAA Regional for the 38th time. After finishing third in the ACC, the Seminoles were 19-11 with eight series wins in conference play and hold a 27-4 mark at home this season.
The last time the Red Storm and Seminoles faced off was in a three-game set from March 4-6, 2016. After falling in the first two games, St. John's picked up a 5-1 victory to close the series.
The Johnnies will compete in their second-ever NCAA Regional in Tallahassee. The Red Storm went 1-2 in the 1991 Atlantic Regional at Dick Howser Stadium.
St. John's and Coastal Carolina have met seven times on the diamond previously with the Chanticleers leading the all-time series, 4-3. The Johnnies won the last meeting to open the 2017 campaign on Feb. 20, taking down the defending national champions and then-No. 9 Coastal Carolina, 7-4, in extra innings. Current Red Storm Assistant Coach John Valente notched three hits, two runs and an RBI in that contest.
The two programs have met once previously in the NCAA Tournament 19 years ago. Coastal Carolina defeated St. John's, 6-5, on June 3, 2007, in the Myrtle Beach Regional in an elimination game.
St. John's and Northern Illinois have only squared off once, with St. John's taking the lone meeting. The Red Storm defeated the Huskies, 11-9, in extra innings in Lubbock, Texas on Feb. 25, 2012. The Huskies qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1972, after winning the MAC Championship for the first time.
The winner of the Tallahassee Regional will take on the winner of the Tuscaloosa Regional next weekend.
2026 NCAA TALLAHASSEE REGIONAL
Friday, May 29
Game 1: #1 Florida State vs. #4 St. John's - 3 p.m. - ACCN
Game 2: #2 Coastal Carolina vs. #3 Northern Illinois - 8 p.m. - ESPN+
Saturday, May 30
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 - 1 p.m.
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 - 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 31
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 - 1 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5 - 6 p.m.
Monday, June 1
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (TBA - IF NECESSARY)
Players Mentioned
INF
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INF
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RHP
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INF
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OF
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