WELLAND, Ont. - Facing elimination and needing to navigate one of the toughest paths possible through the 2026 OUA baseball championship bracket, the Laurier Golden Hawks did what many thought was improbable on Saturday.

Laurier swept a triple-header, defeating Queen's, Waterloo, and the defending champion Toronto Varsity Blues to earn a berth in Sunday's gold medal game, marking the program's first championship final appearance since 2019.

The remarkable run came less than 24 hours after the Golden Hawks suffered a 5-4 opening loss to Carleton.

10-3 win over Queen's

The Golden Hawks began their day with a convincing 10-3 victory over the Queen's Gaels at Welland Stadium.

Queen's grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Brett Hardy doubled home a pair of runs, but Laurier answered immediately.

Nolan Goranson tied the game with a two-run homer to left field in the bottom half of the inning.

Laurier took control in the third. Lucas Bateman drove in a run with a double down the left-field line before Philip Sephton added an RBI groundout. A balk later in the inning scored another run to extend the lead.

The Golden Hawks put the game away with a four-run sixth inning. Preston Vieira delivered a two-run single before Bateman launched a two-run home run to centre field.

Gavin McLean earned the complete-game victory, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out five over seven innings.

Bateman led the offence, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs, while Jared Wellman swiped two bases as Laurier stole three bags as a team.

8-3 win over Waterloo

The momentum carried into Laurier's afternoon match-up against the Waterloo Warriors as the Golden Hawks earned an 8-3 victory.

Laurier opened the scoring in the second inning when a Waterloo error allowed a run to cross the plate.

The Golden Hawks collected 11 hits and received another strong outing on the mound from Jack Rosseti, who allowed three runs, only one earned, on six hits over seven innings while striking out six.

Griffen Duenkler paced the offence with two RBIs and two hits. John Banks, Bateman, Goranson and Wellman also recorded two hits apiece as Laurier steadily pulled away.

The victory set up a winner-take-all evening showdown against the Toronto Varsity Blues, winners of four of the previous five OUA championships.

8-5 win over Toronto

Laurier saved its biggest performance for last.

The Varsity Blues struck first when Ryan Hsu drew a bases-loaded walk in the opening inning, but the Golden Hawks responded with a four-run second.

Banks worked a bases-loaded walk before Laurier executed a steal of home to add another run. Sephton then delivered a two-run double to give the Golden Hawks a 4-1 advantage.

Toronto battled back to tie the contest 5-5 in the fourth inning, but Laurier regained the lead in the sixth when a hit batter forced home the go-ahead run.

The Golden Hawks added insurance and held on for an 8-5 victory.

Mattheo Tsebelis was dominant in relief, allowing no hits and no runs over 3 1/3 innings while striking out two. 

Gold medal game awaits

By day's end, the Golden Hawks had won three elimination games in roughly 12 hours to keep their championship hopes alive.

Now, Laurier will have a chance to play for the OUA title for the first time since winning back-to-back provincial championships in 2018 and 2019.

The Golden Hawks, seeking the fourth OUA championship in program history, will face host Brock in Sunday's gold medal game at 9:30 a.m. at Welland Stadium. The Badgers will be chasing their first OUA championship since 2014 and fifth overall.