TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  – Feeling super. The St. John's baseball team is headed to the NCAA Tournament Super Regionals after downing No. 10 national seed Florida State, 5-4, on Monday afternoon to sweep the Tallahassee Regional. The Red Storm completed an improbable run, becoming just the 13th fourth seed to qualify for Super Regionals since the current format began in 1999. 

St. John's becomes the first team since 2023 to win three games in a regional when trailing by multiple runs and the first four seed to complete the feat. The Johnnies trailed by multiple runs in all three contests of the Tallahassee Regional and is just fifth four seed to sweep a regional. 

"What an incredibly resilient group of guys," said Head Coach Mike Hampton. "I tell these guys, if we can get out there and attack the zone, throw quality strikes, defend the field and get timely hits, we will be in every game and this team has bought into it." 

The Johnnies will make their second-ever trip to Super Regionals and their first since 2012, when the Red Storm went 3-0 at the Chapel Hill Regional. St. John's joins Little Rock as the two four seeds to advance into the second weekend, marking the first time ever multiple four seeds will head to Super Regionals. 

Adam Agresti was named the Tallahassee Regional Most Outstanding Player, as five Johnnies landed on the All-Tournament team. Agresti was joined by Ayden Frey, Rob Mansour, Jon LeGrande and Dylan Fitzsimmons. St John's and Florida State tied for the most selections. 

The momentous victory comes on "Jack Kaiser Day", which was proclaimed by the New York City Mayor after the legendary figure's passing in May of 2022. Kaiser, who became the first person to lead St. John's to a College World Series as a player (1949) and a coach (1960, 1966, 1968), led the Redmen baseball program from 1956-73. The Brooklyn native went onto serve as St. John's Athletic Director and played a pivotal role in the creation of the BIG EAST Conference. In 2007, St. John's home field was named after him, "Jack Kaiser Stadium". 

The Red Storm will play the No. 7 national seed Alabama in the Tuscaloosa Super Regional. The winner of the three-game series will advance to the College World Series in Omaha. St. John's will look to earn its seventh College World Series berth and its first since 1980. 

Agresti proved to be the hero on Monday afternoon at Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium. In the bottom of the fifth with two outs and the bases loaded, the catcher launched the first grand slam by a Red Storm player in the NCAA Tournament in at least 20 years. The round-tripper marked the 19th of the year for the All-BIG EAST First Team selection. 

The Red Storm scored five runs on just three hits. LeGrande and Jayder Raifstanger each collected knocks while the team worked seven walks. Cristian Bernardini provided the eventual decisive run, crossing home plate on a wild pitch in the sixth frame. 

Normally the closer, Evan Hoeckele made just his second start and tossed a career-high 5.0 innings, allowing just two earned runs on six hits, while striking out four. Jack Nestler came in for 1.2 innings of one-hit relief followed by Victor Frederick, who registered his sixth save of the season in 2.1 innings of work to seal the deal. 

In the early going, Hoeckele and Florida State starter Payton Manca dueled as both pitchers worked out of a jam as the Regional Final remained scoreless through two innings.

The Seminoles got on the board in the top of the third with a solo home run off the bat of Cal Fisher to make it 1-0. In the top of the fifth, the Seminoles drove in a runoff a single to center field by Brody DeLamiellure to double their lead, 2-0. 

The Red Storm struck back in the bottom half of the inning. After a pair of walks and a single by LeGrande, Agresti stepped up to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded. The junior took the first pitch he saw yard unleashing a 429-foot blast over the center field wall to propel the Red Storm into a lead that would never be relinquished, 4-2. 

Heading into the sixth with momentum, Nestler retired all three Seminole batters in order. In the bottom of the frame St. John's tacked on another run. Bernardini reached on an error and moved into scoring position on a ground out. Bernardini then came around to score on a pair of wild pitches to provide an insurance run, 5-2. 

After a pair of scoreless innings, the Seminoles were on the doorstep of tying the game in the ninth. After a bunt single, Fisher launched his second home run of the day to pull Florida State  within one, 5-4, with one out. Frederick bounced back to record the final two outs, striking out the final batter looking with a fastball to send the Johnnies to Tuscaloosa in dramatic fashion. 

St. John's will face the Crimson Tide later this week for the first time since the 1991 Atlantic Regional. Game information and broadcast destinations will be announced tomorrow at 10 a.m.

2026 NCAA TALLAHASSEE REGIONAL SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
Friday, May 29
Game 1: #4 St. John's 6, #1 Florida State 5
Game 2: #3 Northern Illinois 12, #2 Coastal Carolina 10
 
Saturday, May 30
Game 3: #1 Florida State vs. #2 Coastal Carolina – Suspended to Sunday conclusion
Game 4: Northern Illinois vs. St. John's - Postponed to Sunday
 
Sunday, May 31
Game 3: #1 Florida State 2, #2 Coastal Carolina 1
Game 4: #4 St. John's 21, #3 Northern Illinois 8
Game 5: #1 Florida State vs. #3 Northern Illinois - 6 p.m.
 
Monday, June 1
Game 6: #4 St. John's 5, #1 Florida State 4
 
Tallahassee Regional All-Tournament Team
C- Adam Agresti, St. John's
1B- Ben Barrett, Florida State
2B- Ayden Frey, St. John's
3B- Cal Fisher, Florida State
SS- Rob Mansour, St. John's
OF- Jon LeGrande, St. John's
OF- Dylan Fitzsimmons, St. John's
OF- Brody DeLamielleure, Florida State (tie)
OF- Dean Mihos, Coastal Carolina (tie)
P- Trey Beard, Florida State
P- Brodie Purcell, Florida State
DH- Marcus Romero, Northern Illinois
Most Outstanding Player- C- Adam Agresti, St. John's