OWENSBORO, Ky. – The Kentucky Wesleyan baseball team scored 32 runs over their doubleheader sweep against Davis & Elkins Saturday at Apollo High School.
The offense was led by sophomore Liam Hutson, who went a combined 6-7 across both games with a double, two home runs, eight RBIs, and three walks, including a grand slam in game one and a walk-off double as part of a five-hit outing in game two.
The Panthers (4-3, 0-0 G-MAC) began the day with a 20-4 route over the Senators in the first game. Wesleyan scored one run in the first, two in the second, 13 in the third, and four in the fifth in the seven-inning triumph.
The third inning was highlighted by Hutson's grand slam, doubles by Baron Ratliff and Michael Chaney, and five walks collectively for the Panthers in the inning.
In the fifth, Ellis Hurt led off with a double and Davin Yates also later doubled to put the finishing touches on the offensive outburst. All three of Yates, Jacob Riegel, and Blaise Wall earned RBIs in the frame.
Left-handed starter Ethan Ell (W, 1-0) had a career-best outing with eight strikeouts and just one earned run in five innings pitched. Carter Kimmel additionally (four strikeouts in 1.2 innings) had a strong appearance in relief.
Logan Molnar had three hits and four RBIs in the win, and Parker Schweitzer recorded five walks and scored four runs. Each of Ratliff, Chaney, and Hurt had two hits.
Davis & Elkins aimed to turn the tides early in the second game, scoring three runs in the top of the first, but the offense immediately picked up starter Cole Peaslee (six strikeouts) in the bottom half.
Hutson got the first of his five hits with a single to lead off before Molnar walked to put runners on first and second with no outs. After Rhett Dysholm flew out and moved Hutson to third, Baron Ratliff came up and hit his first home run of the campaign to tie the game at 3-3.
Peaslee worked around a walk to post a zero in the second, and Wesleyan picked up right where they left off at the plate. Tucker Hagan earned a walk before Riegel launched his first home run of 2026 to put the Panthers on top 5-3.
The two offenses slowed down for the next several innings, allowing the Senators to chip away. D&E added a run in the fifth and a run in the sixth to tie the game once again, 5-5.
The Senators took the lead in the top of the seventh with another one-run frame, but the Panthers had the perfect response. Riegel walked to set up Hutson, who lifted his second homer of the day to steal the advantage back at 7-6.
Later in the inning, Ratliff started a two-out rally with a walk, Chaney reached on an error, and Colson Perry followed with a single that scored Ratliff. Hurt came up next and scorched a double that drove in both Chaney and Perry to extend KWC's lead to 10-6 going into the final two innings.
D&E had their own response, plating five runs in the top of the eighth to turn the game on its head. In the bottom half, Riegel led off with a single and Hutson walked to put two on with no outs. After Molnar reached on a fielder's choice in which Riegel was forced out at third, pinch-hitter Davin Yates delivered a single up the middle that scored Hutson and tied the game again at 11 all.
David Castleberry (W, 1-0), who closed out the previous frame, notched a 1-2-3 top of the ninth to put the momentum in the hands of the Panthers.
Hurt began the bottom of the ninth with a walk and Hagan followed with a sacrifice bunt to move Hurt over to second. Riegel came up next and singled to put two on with just one out for the red-hot Hutson. The outfielder made the Senators pay with a double down the right field line to finalize the Panthers first walk-off win of 2026.
In total across both games, Riegel had four hits, a double, a home run, two stolen bases, and four RBIs to add to Hutson's huge day in the sweep. Ratliff added two more hits and his home run as well.
The Panthers now turn their attention to a three-game set next weekend versus Southwest Baptist. If the weather cooperates, Wesleyan will be back at their home stadium, Panther Park, to battle the Bearcats beginning at 12:00 PM on Friday, February 21st. All three games will be streamed live on FloCollege.
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