CHANGWON-SI, South Korea (Interstat) — The NC Dinos erupted for seven runs across the fifth and seventh innings Thursday night to overcome an early four-run deficit and defeat the Lotte Giants 8-4 at Masan Baseball Stadium, completing a three-game series sweep.

The victory improved the Dinos’ early-season record to 4-1, solidifying their strong start, while the Giants fell to 2-3, having dropped four straight after opening the campaign with two wins.

The game’s pivotal shift occurred in the bottom of the fifth inning. Lotte starter Kim Jin-uk, who had held NC scoreless on just two hits through the first four frames, saw his outing unravel rapidly. Cheon Jae-hwan worked a leadoff walk and Choi Jeong-won followed with a single. After a pop out, Park Min-woo delivered NC’s first run with a sharp single to center, scoring Cheon. Matthew Davidson then sliced the deficit to 4-2 with another RBI single.

With two on and two out, designated hitter Park Kun-woo stepped in and delivered the decisive blow of the inning, lacing a double down the right field line to clear the bases. The two-run double tied the game at 4-4, chasing Kim Jin-uk from the contest and completely reversing the momentum.

Lotte had built its lead methodically. They scratched out a run in the second inning when Yoo Kang-nam’s two-out single to left field plated Son Ho-young. The Giants then added two more in the fifth. Han Tae-yang was hit by a pitch, advanced on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on Jo-Jo Reyes’ groundout. First baseman No Jin-hyuk followed by launching a solo home run to center field off NC starter 버하겐, extending the lead to 4-0.

The Dinos’ bullpen, however, proved impenetrable. Following 버하겐’s departure after the fifth, a parade of relievers — Bae Jae-whan, Won Jong-hae, Ryu Jin-wook and Shin Yeong-woo — combined to stifle the Lotte offense over the final four innings. They allowed only one run on three hits, with that lone tally coming on a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

NC seized control for good in the seventh against the Lotte relief corps. Kim Ju-won led off with a single and advanced to second on a groundout. After an intentional walk to Davidson loaded the bases, Park Kun-woo worked another walk to force in the go-ahead run. Kim Whee-jip then pushed the lead to 5-4 with an infield RBI single. With the bases still loaded, pinch-hitter Han Suk-hyun delivered the knockout punch, a two-run double down the right field line to extend the advantage to 7-4.

The Dinos added an insurance run in the eighth on a dropped third strike and a throwing error.

Lotte’s late attempt at a rally in the eighth saw Jo-Jo Reyes and No Jin-hyuk hit back-to-back doubles, but they could only muster one run on Jeon Jun-woo’s sacrifice fly before the NC bullpen shut the door.

The loss continued a troubling trend for the Giants, who have now been outscored 22-10 by the Dinos in the first three games of the series. The result also defied the pregame betting lines, which had installed Lotte as a 1.5-run favorite. The total of 12 runs combined narrowly went over the projected over/under line of 10.5.

NC’s offensive output was a balanced effort, racking up 10 hits with seven different players driving in at least one run. Park Kun-woo led the way with three RBIs. Lotte managed only six hits total, with No Jin-hyuk’s homer and double providing the primary spark.

The Giants will look to halt their skid as they return home to Busan to open a three-game weekend series against the Shinsegae Landers on Friday. The Dinos, riding a three-game winning streak, will travel to Gwangju to begin a three-game set against the Kia Tigers, also on Friday.