The St. John’s Red Storm will kick off their NCAA Tournament journey on Friday, facing off against the 10-seed Florida State at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee, with the game scheduled for 3 p.m. and broadcast on ACC Network. St. John’s, entering the tournament with a 33-24 record, recently secured their 11th Big East championship, going undefeated in their conference tournament. Their starting pitcher, Liam O’Leary, a junior right-hander and All-Big East First Team selection, boasts an impressive season record of 8-4 with a 2.97 ERA. Florida State will counter with junior right-hander Bryson Moore, who has a record of 6-2 and a 3.88 ERA. This matchup marks the fourth meeting between the teams, with St. John’s having previously faced Florida State in 2016, where they won one of three games.
Why It Matters
St. John’s baseball program has a storied history, with this year’s NCAA Tournament marking their 39th postseason appearance, which ranks them 12th all-time among NCAA Division I programs. The Red Storm have a chance to make history as only the fifth fourth-seed to advance to the College World Series, a feat last achieved by Murray State in 2025. Additionally, their recent Big East championship win underscores their competitive resurgence in college baseball, reflecting the program’s ability to contend at a high level in the NCAA landscape. This tournament appearance is significant as it follows their previous regional visit in 2024, where they finished with a 1-2 record.
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