Upsets are bound to happen in college baseball but opening night of the 2024 season saw a major one. The St. John’s baseball program pulled off arguably its biggest win in over a decade, after the Red Storm went down to Florida and defeated #2 Florida in a very impressive win.

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Red Storm Knock off the Gators in Gainesville

The St. John’s Red Storm started hot, as the Johnnies were able to get two runs off starter Cade Fisher. Fisher looked primed to dominate after the first two batters, as he overpowered St. John’s with his hard, high-90s fastball up during the first two at-bats.

Catcher Jimmy Keenan, a sophomore who was making hard contact during fall ball, drove in the first run on a liner and went 2-4.

Adam Agresti notched two hits in his first collegiate game, while junior outfielder Jackson Tucker hit a line drive home run off an upstairs fastball in the eighth.

St. John’s starting pitcher Xavier Kolhosser got the win and showed some flash with a fastball with carry and a good changeup. However, he only got one strikeout against a strong Gators team and made a big mistake to Colby Shelton, when he hung a breaking ball on the inner half during the fifth.

As for the Gators, Fisher ended the night with four strikeouts but only last two innings. Florida used six pitchers during opening night, their first game since the last game of the 2023 season against LSU.

Golden Spikes nominee Jac Caglianone, scheduled to pitch on February 18, notched two hits. Colby Shelton, Michael Robinson, and Dale Thomas also got two hits.

Per St. John’s baseball, this is the team’s highest-ranked victory since 2010 when the Red Storm defeated #1 Virginia.