St. John's baseball team secured a decisive 17‑6 victory over Xavier in the semifinals of the 2026 BIG EAST Baseball Championship, punching their ticket to the championship game.
The contest opened with Xavier building a 3‑1 lead in the third inning, courtesy of RBIs from Jonathan Fitz, Luke Hammond and Tommy Townsend, but the Red Storm answered with a five‑run third and a six‑run fourth to flip the momentum.
Designated hitter Will Cowan emerged as the offensive engine, finishing with three hits, two runs, seven RBI and two home runs, while first baseman Shaun McMillan contributed a solo homer in the opening frame.
A Record‑Setting Onslaught
Third baseman Jayder Raifstinger added a 3‑for‑4 performance, scoring two runs and driving in five, as the team shattered a program‑record for runs in a tournament game, previously set in 1986.
With the semifinal win locked in, St. John's will await Sunday's championship opponent, which will be the winner of the elimination showdown between Xavier and Creighton, setting the stage for a highly anticipated final.