St. John's Captures 11th Big East Title
In a tightly contested final held in Mason, Ohio, the St. John's Red Storm defeated the Creighton Bluejays 5‑3 to claim their eleventh Big East Tournament championship. The win not only added another trophy to the program's storied history but also earned the team its 39th NCAA Tournament appearance. The victory was especially meaningful because it completed a rare regular‑season and tournament double, a feat last achieved in 2018.
A Comeback for the Ages
The Bluejays opened the scoring early, taking a 2‑0 lead with a sacrifice fly in the second inning and a solo home run in the third. St. John's answered in the bottom of the third when Cristian Bernardini launched a solo blast, cutting the margin to 2‑1. The Red Storm then rallied in the fourth, scoring two runs on a sequence of errors that turned a 3‑1 deficit into a 3‑3 tie. A clutch bloop single by Shaun McMillan brought home the go‑ahead run, and Ayden Frey added an insurance tally in the seventh to put the team ahead for good.
Starter Ian Mowad surrendered just two runs over two innings before turning the ball over to a bullpen that steadied the game. Victor Frederick tossed three scoreless frames, while Tyler Longoria and Evan Hoeckele combined for another three innings of tight relief. Hoeckele's seventh save of the season sealed the victory, preserving the Red Storm's lead as the crowd in Mason erupted.
Standout Players and Honors
Several key contributors earned post‑game recognition. Will Cowan, who drove in the game‑winning run the day after delivering seven RBIs against Xavier, was named to the All‑Tournament Team. Bernardini's solo homer and Frey's insurance hit highlighted the offensive surge. On the Creighton side, Rocco Gump was awarded the Jack Kaiser Award as the most outstanding player of the championship. The All‑Tournament Team also featured Liam O'Leary, Jayder Raifstanger, and Lewis Rodriguez, underscoring the high level of competition.
With the championship secured, St. John's now awaits Selection Monday, when the NCAA Tournament bracket will be unveiled at 12 p.m. on ESPN2. The Red Storm will learn their regional destination and seed, a moment that will determine the path toward a potential national championship run. For a program that has consistently excelled in the Big East, the upcoming tournament promises another chance to make history.