CHANGWON-SI, South Korea (Interstat) — In a wild, back-and-forth affair defined by a chaotic opening frame, the NC Dinos overcame an early four-run deficit to defeat the KT Wiz 7-4 on Tuesday evening at Masan Baseball Stadium. The Dinos pounded out 15 hits to rally past the Wiz, whose offense was silenced after a first-inning outburst.

The most important part of the game was unquestionably the bottom of the first inning, a relentless, 10-batter response that saw the Dinos erase the Wiz’s commanding lead before their starter had even recorded three outs. After KT’s Drew Verhagen labored through a 32-pitch top of the first, surrendering four runs on three hits and a walk, the Dinos immediately answered.

Shortstop Kim Ju-won, a key performer for NC, led off the bottom half by launching a solo home run to right field off KT starter Kim Min-su. The blast ignited a rally that featured six consecutive batters reaching base with two outs. Choi Jeong-won and Park Min-woo singled, and after a strikeout, Park Kun-woo’s groundout plated another run. Lee Woo-sung walked, and Seo Ho-cheol delivered an RBI single. Kim Hyung-jun then cleared the bases with a two-run single down the left field line, tying the game at 4-4. Han Suk-hyun followed with another single before Kim Min-su finally escaped the inning, having thrown 40 pitches.

The Dinos seized the lead for good in the second inning. Choi Jeong-won singled, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored on Park Dong-wook’s single to left. The rally continued as Kim Whee-jip was hit by a pitch and Lee Woo-sung loaded the bases with an infield single. Seo Ho-cheol’s fielder’s choice brought in another run, making it 6-4.

KT’s only other offensive threat came in the fourth inning. With Verhagen still on the mound, Heo Kyoung-min singled and Oh Yoon-suk and Han Seung-taek worked walks to load the bases with two outs. Pinch-hitter Kwon Dong-jin then ripped a triple to right-center, clearing the bases and knotting the score at 6-6.

The tie was short-lived. NC responded in the bottom of the fifth against reliever Jeon Yong-ju. Kim Hyung-jun walked, was bunted to second, and scored the decisive run on Kim Ju-won’s RBI single down the left field line, giving NC a 7-6 lead they would not relinquish.

From that point forward, the Dinos’ bullpen was flawless. Following Verhagen’s departure after five innings, in which he allowed six hits and all four runs while striking out five, a parade of relievers shut the door. Kim Young-kyu, Bae Jae-whan, Ryu Jin-wook and Lim Ji-min combined to pitch four perfect innings, striking out five. Lim Ji-min, the last of the group, earned particular note for a dominant ninth inning, striking out two in a 1-2-3 save.

KT’s bullpen, led by scoreless outings from Woo Kyu-min, Ju Kwon and Kim Min-su, kept the game within reach, but the Wiz bats managed only six hits total and went quietly after the fourth. NC’s 15-hit attack was led by Kim Ju-won, who finished 2 for 5 with the home run and two RBIs. Choi Jeong-won went 3 for 5 with three runs scored.

The victory lifted the NC Dinos to a .500 record at 7-7 across all competitions, while the KT Wiz fell to 9-5. The result defied the pregame projections from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a 6-3 KT victory and whose ELO system gave the Wiz a 52.2% probability to win. Despite being installed as a -1.5 run favorite, NC’s seven-run output helped push the total score of 11 just over the pregame over/under line of 9.5.

The two teams will continue their series at Masan Baseball Stadium on Wednesday, April 15. KT will look to rebound and maintain its position near the top of the standings, while NC aims to build momentum and secure a series win.