Mason, Ohio- The No. 4-seeded Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers completed a remarkable postseason run Sunday afternoon at Prasco Park, defeating the Findlay Oilers 12-8 to claim the 2026 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Baseball Championship.
Kentucky Wesleyan finished a perfect 4-0 in the tournament and earned the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional. The Panthers showed resilience throughout the weekend, and nowhere was that more evident than in the championship game, where they erased a four-run deficit late to secure the title.
The Panthers wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, plating two runs in the top of the first inning to take an early advantage. Findlay quickly answered in the bottom half, collecting three hits including a pair of home runs to take the lead 3-2.
Both offenses continued to trade momentum throughout the middle innings. Kentucky Wesleyan narrowed the gap in the fourth inning when Elijah Stockton launched a two run home run to center field, trimming the Oilers’ lead to 5-4.
Findlay appeared to seize control of the game over the next few innings, adding insurance runs in the sixth and seventh to build an 8-4 advantage heading into the late stages. But the Panthers refused to back down.
In the top of the eighth inning, Kentucky Wesleyan delivered the decisive rally of the tournament. The Panthers exploded for five runs, highlighted by a clutch RBI single from Luke Renfrow that gave Kentucky Wesleyan a 9-8 lead and shifted the momentum in the Panthers favor.
The Panthers added breathing room in the ninth inning when Baron Ratliff crushed a home run to left field as part of a three-run frame, extending the lead to 12-8.
On the mound, David Castleberry closed the door in dramatic fashion, striking out the final batter of the game to secure the championship victory and spark the Panthers’ celebration.
Zach Taylor earned the win in relief, striking out three batters over 1.1 innings while helping stabilize the game during the late comeback effort.
Under head coach Todd Lillpop, Kentucky Wesleyan now advances to the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional after one of the program’s most impressive tournament performances in recent years.
The NCAA Division II Baseball Selection Show is scheduled to air Sunday, May 10, at 10 p.m. ET, when the Panthers will officially learn their regional destination and opening-round opponent.