St. John's baseball team kicked off the 2026 BIG EAST Tournament with a 4-2 victory over fourth-seeded Creighton. The Red Storm is now in the winners' bracket, advancing after a standout performance by Liam O'Leary, who pitched eight innings with six strikeouts. St. John's rallied in the fifth inning with a crucial two-run double from Dylan Fitzsimmons, taking the lead and maintaining it despite Creighton's eighth-inning run. This win marks the fourth time in their last five tournament appearances that St. John's has won its opening game.

By the Numbers
  • Liam O'Leary pitched 8.0 innings, allowing 2 runs and striking out 6, throwing 137 pitches.
  • Dylan Fitzsimmons had 2 RBIs from a pivotal fifth-inning double.
State of Play
  • St. John's improves to a record of 31-24, 15-6 in the BIG EAST.
  • They will face the winner of the UConn vs. Xavier matchup in the winners' bracket.
What's Next

The next game for St. John's is pending the outcome of the UConn and Xavier contest, with the first pitch time to be announced later today.

Bottom Line

This victory highlights St. John's resilience and strong pitching, setting the stage for a promising run in the BIG EAST Tournament as they aim for continued success.