The St. John’s baseball team achieved its first series win of the 2026 season with a 5-4 victory over UAlbany at Jack Kaiser Stadium on Saturday.
Although UAlbany had more hits than St. John’s, the Red Storm capitalized on key opportunities and aggressive base running to secure the win. Rob Mansour led the offense for St. John’s, driving in two runs and going 2-for-3 at the plate. Will Cowan hit a solo home run in the third inning, marking the team’s first home run in Queens this season.
Jon LeGrande and Shaun McMillan each contributed with a hit and a run scored, while McMillan also recorded an RBI. Adam Agresti drew two walks and crossed home plate twice.
Starting pitcher Evan Chaffee threw 5.2 innings in his first home appearance, allowing three earned runs on four hits and striking out five batters. Reliever Evan Hoeckele pitched 3.1 scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and striking out five to close out the game.
UAlbany took an early lead by scoring on a passed ball in the second inning, but St. John’s responded with three runs in their half of the frame after singles from LeGrande and McMillan tied the game, followed by RBIs from Mansour and another run scored on a passed ball.
Cowan extended St. John’s lead to 4-1 with his home run in the third inning before UAlbany answered back with a three-run homer by Logan Morris in the fourth to tie it up.
In the sixth inning, Agresti walked and LeGrande was hit by a pitch before advancing into scoring position. Mansour delivered again with a two-out single that gave St. John’s its final lead at 5-4.
Hoeckele retired UAlbany over the last three-plus innings, ending any comeback hopes for the Great Danes as he struck out one batter to finish off the game.
St. John’s will look for its first sweep of the season when they face UAlbany again tomorrow at Jack Kaiser Stadium at 1 p.m.
