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| Kim Hwi-jip / Photo=DB |
Kim Hwi-jip drew a walk with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, forcing in the game-winning run as NC defeated Lotte 5-4 in a 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League home game at Changwon NC Park on April 1.
The victory was NC's second straight, moving the club to 3-1. Lotte dropped its second consecutive game and fell to 2-2.
Park Min-woo finished with three hits, including a homer, and two RBIs, while Shin Jae-in hit a two-run shot. Kim Hwi-jip delivered the decisive RBI.
Starter Shin Min-hyeok threw five solid innings, allowing two runs but left without a decision. Ryu Jin-wook tossed a scoreless inning to pick up the win.
For Lotte, Reyes and Yoon Dong-hee each homered, but their efforts were overshadowed by the loss. Starter Na Gyun-an surrendered two runs over five innings, and reliever Kim Won-joong was charged with the loss after recording one out and allowing a run.
The game was scoreless early on.
Lotte struck first in the top of the fourth when Yoon Dong-hee launched a solo homer to make it 1-0.
NC answered in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs and a runner on second, Park Min-woo deposited a two-run homer to put NC ahead 2-1.
Lotte responded in the top of the sixth. With one out and runners on the corners, Yu Kang-nam hit a sacrifice fly to tie it at 2-2. Back-to-back hits by Han Tae-yang and Jeon Min-jae produced another run and gave Lotte a 3-2 lead.
Lotte added to its momentum in the top of the seventh when Reyes hit a solo shot to extend the lead to 4-2.
But NC rallied late. In the bottom of the eighth, with one out and a runner on first, Shin Jae-in crushed a two-run homer to even the score at 4-4.
NC carried the momentum into the ninth. After one out in the bottom of the ninth, Park Min-woo doubled, Davidson drew a walk, and Park Geon-woo was intentionally walked to load the bases. Kim Hwi-jip battled Kim Won-joong to a full count before drawing the walk that forced in the winning run. NC held on for a 5-4 victory.
[Sports Today reporter Lee Sang-pil sports@stoo.com]
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