MASON, Ohio – Behind the arm of sophomore pitcher Evan Chaffee and the bat of sophomore catcher Jimmy Keenan, St. John’s weathered the storm to win the program’s 10th championship in program history and the first since 2018.
 
Chaffee pitched six innings with seven strikeouts, to lead the Johnnies to a 4-2 win over Georgetown at the BIG EAST Baseball Championship Presented by JEEP. Meanwhile, Xavier Kolhosser closed it out for the Red Storm with three innings of one run allowed. At the plate, Keenan wrapped up the trio of games with three runs, six rbi, two home runs and a .500 (7-for-14) average.
 
Stepping up in a major way in all three wins for the Red Storm, Keenan earned the Jack Kaiser Most Outstanding Player Award.
 
After a pair of scoreless innings, it was the Hoyas that struck first in the top of the third with an Owen Carapellotti single through the right side, allowing Andrew Bergeron to touch home plate in a 1-0 game.
 
The defense remained stiff on both ends, before the Jonnies tied the game in the bottom of the sixth with a Blake Mayberry ground out rbi, with Garrett Scavelli scoring to tie the game at 1-1.
 
St. John’s added two more in the bottom of the seventh to take a lead it would not look back on. Jackson Tucker earned a walk with a bases loaded opportunity, allowing Ben Beachamp to score. Moments later, Scavelli flew out to right field, as Luke Orbon tagged up and placed St. John’s in front 3-1.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, the lead grew with Orbon reaching on a fielder’s choice and Keenan running home for the 4-1 advantage.
 
St. John’s locks up the BIG EAST’s automatic bid in the NCAA Championship, with the full bracket set to be revealed Monday at Noon ET on ESPN2.
 
All-Tournament Team
Tyler Minick, UConn, Fr., DH
Jake Hyde, Georgetown, Sr., OF
Josh Rolling, Georgetown, Sr., INF
Kavi Caster, Georgetown, Sr., OF
Xavier Kolhosser, St. John’s, R-So., P
Evan Chaffee, St. John’s, So., P
Garrett Scavelli, St. John’s, Sr., OF
Jimmy Keenan, St. John’s, So., C
Luke Orbon, St. John’s, So., INF
Matt DePrey, Xavier, Sr., C
Alex Vera, Xavier, Gr., P
 
Jack Kaiser Most Outstanding Player
Jimmy Keenan, St. John’s, So., C
 
2024 BIG EAST Baseball Championship Schedule
Wednesday, May 22 (BEDN)
Game 1 | No. 2 St. John's 11, No. 3 Georgetown 9

Thursday, May 23 (BEDN)
Game 2 | No. 4 Xavier 3, No. 1 UConn 2 (11 in.)
Game 3 | No. 3 Georgetown 10, No. 1 UConn 9 (10 in.)
Game 4 | No. 2 St. John's 8, No. 4 Xavier 7

Friday, May 24 (BEDN)
Game 5 | No. 3 Georgetown 9, No. 4 Xavier 6

Saturday, May 25 (FS1)
Game 6 | No. 2 St. John's 4, No. 3 Georgetown 2