St. John\u2019s baseball is already making waves in the NCAA Tournament.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Red Storm pulled off a 6-5 upset victory over No. 10 Florida State in the first round of the NCAA regional in Tallahassee on Friday as they look to advance to the seventh College World Series in program history.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The win marks the Red Storm\u2019s first NCAA regional opening-round victory since 2012.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Johnnies, who at one time trailed 5-2, tied the game in the top of the eighth inning and took the lead in the ninth on junior infielder Jayder Raifstanger\u2019s run-scoring single.\u00a0<\/p>\n
St. John\u2019s beat Florida State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Phil Kelly<\/p>\n
Right-hander Evan Hoeckele got the final five outs to lock down the victory.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Florida State jumped out to an early lead with a solo home run by freshman outfielder John Stuetzer in the first inning. But St. John\u2019s answered with a solo shot from sophomore Adam Agresti in the second.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Seminoles led by three following a string of hits in the sixth and an impressive outing from starting pitcher Bryson Moore, who struck out six and gave up two earned runs in five innings, mostly keeping St. John\u2019s in check. But St. John\u2019s found its way back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Red Storm outfielder Dylan Fitzsimmons blasted a solo shot in the eighth to cut Florida State\u2019s lead to two. St. John\u2019s then scored two runs, one via a wild pitch and another on a passed ball, to get the game even.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After the Red Storm held the Seminoles scoreless in the bottom half, Raifstanger ripped an RBI single in the ninth to give St. John\u2019s its first lead of the game. Hoeckele allowed two singles but induced a weak grounder to third that turned into a game-ending double play.\u00a0<\/p>\n
St. John\u2019s will play the winner of the Northern Illinois-Coastal Carolina game at 6 p.m. Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
St. John\u2019s rallied from a 5-2 deficit to take the Friday win. Phil Kelly<\/p>\n
After a 1-10 start to 2026, St. John\u2019s enjoyed a massive turnaround by winning 23 of its last 30 games.\u00a0<\/p>\n