NEW YORK (Interstat) — Jayder Raifstanger drove in six runs on four hits, including a tiebreaking three-run home run, to lead Saint John’s past Butler 7-2 on Friday afternoon at Jack Kaiser Stadium in a Big East contest.

The Red Storm improved to 29-24 overall, while the Bulldogs fell to 18-32. Saint John’s avenged a loss to Butler the previous day, when the Bulldogs won 7-3.

Butler grabbed an early lead in the top of the first inning. Danny Gavin singled to shortstop, moved to third on a Gavin Gilmore single through the right side and scored on a Charlie Schebler single through the left side. Schebler’s RBI gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 advantage before the Red Storm could record an out. Butler managed only one more hit over the next eight innings.

Saint John’s answered in the bottom of the first. Jon LeGrande struck out to start the inning, but Raifstanger doubled to left field. Shaun McMillan followed with a double to left center, scoring Raifstanger and cutting Butler’s lead to 2-1.

The score remained unchanged until the bottom of the third. With one out, Saint John’s Lewis Rodriguez was hit by a pitch. LeGrande singled through the right side, putting runners at the corners. Butler pitcher Max Winders was replaced by Jack Hagen. Raifstanger then homered to right center, clearing the bases and giving the Red Storm a 4-2 lead. Raifstanger’s blast scored LeGrande, Rodriguez and himself.

Butler’s offense stalled against Saint John’s starter Evan Chaffee. Chaffee pitched six innings, allowing five hits and one earned run while striking out six. He walked two batters. Jack Nestler relieved Chaffee and threw three scoreless innings, giving up no hits and striking out three to earn the save.

Saint John’s extended its lead in the fifth inning. LeGrande walked, stole second and scored on Raifstanger’s single through the right side. That made it 5-2. Two innings later, the Red Storm added two more runs. Rodriguez led off the sixth with a double to right field. LeGrande singled to pitcher, moving Rodriguez to third. LeGrande stole second, and Raifstanger singled up the middle, driving in both runners to make it 7-2.

Butler scratched across an unearned run in the eighth inning. Gavin Gilmore was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a walk to Schebler and scored when Will Burgess reached on a fielding error by the second baseman. That was the final run of the game.

Butler relief pitchers struggled. Starter Max Winders lasted two innings, giving up three earned runs on three hits and a hit batter. Jack Hagen pitched four innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three. Tre Benjamin threw two scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out one.

Saint John’s collected 11 hits, while Butler managed five. LeGrande went 2-for-3 with two walks and two stolen bases. McMillan drove in a run with a double. Rodriguez went 1-for-2 with a double. For Butler, Schebler went 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.

Raifstanger’s performance was the most critical. His three-run homer in the third turned a one-run deficit into a two-run lead, and his two-run single in the sixth provided insurance. In his previous game against Butler on May 14, Raifstanger went 2-for-5. Over his prior four games, he had five hits in 18 at-bats with two RBIs.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Saint John’s 6, Butler 4, and Interstat’s ELO system gave Saint John’s a 77.90 percent probability to win before the game. The teams meet again Saturday in the series finale.