GWANGJU, South Korea (Interstat) — Kim Hyun-soo hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning Thursday evening, and the KT Wiz held on for a 7-5 road victory over the Kia Tigers at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field. The announced attendance was 15,602. KT, the visiting team, improved to 80 wins, 48 losses and 4 ties. Kia, the home team, fell to 70 wins, 59 losses and 2 ties. The Wiz finished with 12 hits, while the Tigers had 7. The game was played in the evening and unfolded as a back-and-forth contest before Kim’s late swing decided it.

KT opened the scoring in the first inning. Choi Won-jun singled to center-right, and Kim Hyun-soo doubled over the head of the center fielder, driving in Choi. Ahn Hyun-min popped out to third, Sam Hilliard struck out and Jang Sung-woo grounded out to the pitcher, ending the inning. Kia answered immediately in the bottom half. Park Jung-woo struck out, but Park Jae-hyun singled to left and Kim Do-yeong reached on an infield single to the left side. Harold Castro grounded out to first, moving both runners into scoring position. Na Sung-bum then singled in front of left field, scoring Kim Do-yeong and Park Jae-hyun. Kim Sun-bin grounded out to the pitcher, but the Tigers had taken the lead.

Both teams went quietly in the second. KT’s Kim Sang-su grounded out to third, Ryu Hyun-in flied out to center and Cho Dae-hyun grounded out to short. Kia’s Ha Ju-suk flied out to left, Kim Tae-gun flied out to left and Park Min flied out to center. KT pulled even in the third. Jang Jun-won fouled out to left, but Choi Won-jun singled to right field and Kim Hyun-soo singled in front of right field, moving Choi to third. Ahn Hyun-min reached on a fielder’s choice that retired Kim at second, and Choi scored on the play. Sam Hilliard struck out to end the inning. Kia went down in order in the bottom half on a flyout to right, a flyout to right and a groundout to short.

KT moved back in front in the fourth. Jang Sung-woo reached on an infield single to the left side. Kim Sang-su grounded out to short, advancing Jang to second. Ryu Hyun-in singled to center-right, scoring Jang. Cho Dae-hyun singled to left, moving Ryu to second. Jang Jun-won walked to load the bases, and Choi Won-jun struck out. Kim Hyun-soo then walked, forcing in Ryu and moving Cho to third. Ahn Hyun-min flied out to right, but the Wiz had a two-run cushion. Kia’s bottom of the fourth produced a walk to Harold Castro, but Na Sung-bum reached on a fielder’s choice that erased Castro at second, and Kim Sun-bin grounded into a double play.

Sam Hilliard added to the lead in the fifth with a home run to center field. Jang Sung-woo struck out, Kim Sang-su walked and Ryu Hyun-in walked, but Cho Dae-hyun popped out to first and Jang Jun-won struck out. Kia could not respond in the bottom half, as Ha Ju-suk grounded out to second, Kim Tae-gun fouled out to left and Park Min flied out to center. KT threatened again in the sixth when Ahn Hyun-min was hit by a pitch and Sam Hilliard walked. Ahn stole third, but Jang Sung-woo struck out to strand him.

Kia stayed within striking distance. In the sixth, Park Jung-woo grounded out to short, Park Jae-hyun grounded out to first and Kim Do-yeong tripled to right-center. Harold Castro flied out to left, leaving the runner at third. KT went scoreless in the seventh when Kim Sang-su grounded out to third, Ryu Hyun-in grounded out to first, Cho Dae-hyun singled to right-center and Jang Jun-won flied out to left. The Tigers broke through in the bottom of the seventh. Na Sung-bum was hit by a pitch, and Kim Sun-bin doubled down the left-field line, moving Na to third. Ha Ju-suk struck out, but Kim Tae-gun homered to left field, scoring Kim Sun-bin and Na Sung-bum and tying the game. Park Min struck out and Park Jung-woo grounded out to third.

The decisive swing came in the eighth. Choi Won-jun singled down the right-field line, and Kim Hyun-soo homered to right field, scoring Choi and putting KT back in front. Ahn Hyun-min grounded out to third, Sam Hilliard grounded out to the pitcher and Jang Sung-woo fouled out to the catcher. In the bottom of the eighth, Park Jae-hyun grounded out to first, Kim Do-yeong struck out and Harold Castro struck out. KT put a runner on in the ninth when Ryu Hyun-in singled to center, and Ryu stole second, but Han Seung-taek flied out to center and Kwon Dong-jin struck out. The Wiz held on for the final margin.

First baseman Kim Hyun-soo was the central figure for KT, delivering a double, a single, a bases-loaded walk and the tiebreaking home run. KT pitchers So Hyeong-jun, Oh Won-seok, Park Yeong-hyun and Kim Jeong-woon all saw work. Kia catcher Kim Tae-gun provided the biggest home swing with a three-run homer. Kia pitchers Lee Tae-yang, Hwang Dong-ha and Choi Ji-min also appeared. Right fielder Na Sung-bum drove in two runs with his first-inning single for Kia. Kim Do-yeong tripled and scored, and Kim Sun-bin doubled and scored for Kia.

The outcome continued KT’s recent success against Kia. The Wiz had won the previous two meetings between the teams, both at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field, including an extra-inning victory earlier in the week. KT remained in strong position in the standings with 80 wins, 48 losses and 4 ties. Kia, meanwhile, slipped to 70 wins, 59 losses and 2 ties. KT’s next scheduled games include a home series against the Lotte Giants, while Kia is set to visit the LG Twins.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of KT Wiz 7, Kia Tigers 9. Interstat’s ELO system had projected KT with a 50.4 percent probability to win.