CHANGWON-SI, South Korea (Interstat) — A first-inning offensive burst and a clutch ninth-inning insurance home run propelled the KT Wiz to a 4-3 victory over the NC Dinos in a tightly contested Korea Baseball Organization game Thursday evening at Masan Baseball Stadium.

The win gave the Wiz the series victory, taking two of three games from the Dinos, and improved their league-leading record to 11-5. The Dinos fell to 7-9 with the loss.

The game’s most critical sequence came in the top of the ninth inning. Protecting a narrow 4-3 lead, KT third baseman Jang Jun-won provided essential breathing room by launching a solo home run. That blast proved decisive, as NC mounted a final threat in the bottom of the eighth but could not complete the comeback.

The contest was defined by early offense and strong pitching thereafter. The Wiz struck immediately against NC starter Koo Chang-mo in the first. Choi Won-joon led with an infield single and, after a fielder’s choice, Kim Hyun-soo doubled. Cleanup hitter Jang Sung-woo then delivered the big blow, a two-run double to right-center field, staking KT to a 4-0 lead before many fans had settled in.

The Dinos answered with one run in their half of the first against KT starter Sauer. Choi Jeong-won singled, stole second and third, and scored on Park Min-woo’s double. That early exchange accounted for the bulk of the scoring until the late innings.

From there, the starting pitchers settled into a duel. Sauer, KT’s top star, delivered a dominant performance. Over 5 1/3 innings, he allowed two earned runs on five hits, striking out eight. He effectively mixed his pitches to keep the Dinos’ lineup off balance, working out of jams in the fourth and sixth innings.

Koo matched him for much of the night, also going 5 1/3 innings and surrendering three earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts. He recovered from the rocky first to keep NC within reach.

NC chipped away in the sixth. Park Min-woo singled and Park Kun-woo walked, chasing Sauer. Reliever Sugimoto Koki entered and allowed an infield single to Oh Young-soo that scored a run, cutting the deficit to 4-2. The Dinos then pulled within one in the eighth against the KT bullpen. With two outs, an error by KT pitcher Han Seung-hyuk allowed a run to score on an infield single by Shin Jae-in, making it 4-3.

Han Seung-hyuk recovered to end the eighth-inning threat and was credited with the win, improving to 1-0. KT closer Park Yeong-hyun then shut the door in the ninth, working a perfect frame with one strikeout to secure his sixth save of the season.

NC reliever Ryu Jin-wook, who pitched the eighth and gave up Jang’s homer, took the loss, falling to 1-2.

The game’s outcome defied some pregame projections. While Interstat’s game simulator and ELO ratings favored KT, the total combined runs of seven fell well under the posted over/under line of 9.5.

The Wiz collected eight hits, led by Choi Won-joon’s three singles. The Dinos managed seven hits but went 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base.

KT will look to continue its strong start as it returns home to Suwon to begin a three-game series against the Kiwoom Heroes on Friday. The Dinos remain at Masan to host the Shinsegae Landers, also on Friday.