Pirates Swept by St. John’s in BIG EAST Opener

Published: Monday, April 7, 2025

by Liam Page

QUEENS, N.Y. — The Seton Hall Pirates (12-20) were swept by St. John’s (15-13) in this weekend’s series. Friday’s matchup was no contest, with the Pirates losing 13-0, but Sunday’s doubleheader was highly competitive, with both games being decided by one run.

Friday’s game was a tale of two pitching staffs. St. John’s starter Rodriguez allowed just two hits and five walks over 5.2 innings, with all runners left stranded. Relievers Mariano, Johnson and Ruiz gave up only one hit and two walks the rest of the way. 

The defense played a key role, as the four pitchers combined for just three strikeouts while Seton Hall made contact but couldn’t string anything together.

Seton Hall’s pitching struggled. Ryan Reich started strong, retiring the first five batters, but walked three straight and gave up a two-run single. 

A throwing error by Kevin Milewski allowed another run before Reich escaped the inning. St. John’s scored in every inning except the fourth and eighth.

Saturday’s game was postponed to Sunday due to rain, setting up a doubleheader. The day off seemed to help Seton Hall settle in, as the Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the first. Aiden Robbins stole home on a wild pitch after the bases were loaded on walks, but the Pirates left the rest stranded. 

St. John’s responded in the bottom half, tying it 1-1 after Cole Hansen issued three walks and hit a batter. Two groundouts to second brought in two more runs, giving the Red Storm a 3-1 lead in the third.

The teams played near-perfect baseball from there. Evan Chaffee pitched a hitless top of the second. Hansen was replaced by John Downing in the bottom half, and he allowed just six hits the rest of the way. Despite his efforts, the Pirates couldn't overcome the deficit. 

Chaffee loaded the bases before being relieved by Evan Hoeckele. Robbins scored on a sac fly, but Hoeckele and Mettert shut things down in the seventh to seal the 3-2 win.

The series finale was the closest and most back-and-forth. The Pirates struck first in the third with an inside-the-park solo home run by AJ Soldra, scoring on an errant throw by the Red Storm shortstop. 

St. John’s responded in the fourth after Seton Hall pitcher Steven Svenson hit three straight batters to load the bases, and a Gabe Cavazzoni error tied it 1-1. Svenson was pulled in the fifth for Daniel Frontera, who gave up a two-run homer that inning.

The Pirates responded in the sixth. After St. John's pitcher Victor Frederick walked two, Milewski hit a game-tying double, prompting Frederick’s exit. Frontera was also pulled for Stephen Curry, who held the Red Storm hitless through the sixth and seventh. 

In the eighth, Robbins doubled, moved to third on a fielder’s choice, and scored on a sac fly to give Seton Hall a 4-3 lead. St. John’s tied it in the bottom half with a double, bunt, and sac fly. After a scoreless ninth from the Pirates, the Red Storm walked it off with a two-out double to win 5-4.

The Pirates will continue play at in-state rival Rutgers on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. Seton Hall will then return home for a BIG EAST series against Creighton.

Liam Page can be reached at liam.page@student.shu.edu. 

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