From 3-0 Down to 9-4 Victory: How KIA Tigers Turned the Game Around Against NC Dinos

Kim Ho-ryeong / Photo = DB

[Sports Today reporter Shin Seo-young] The KIA Tigers rallied in extra innings to beat the NC Dinos.

KIA topped NC 9-4 on the road at Changwon NC Park on April 29 in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

The win moved KIA to 13 wins, 1 tie and 13 losses, lifting them out of a tie with NC into sole possession of fifth place. NC fell to 12-14 and dropped to sixth.

KIA starter Lee Ui-ri worked five innings, allowing three runs on five hits (two homers) with two walks and six strikeouts. Jeong Hae-young earned the victory with two scoreless innings, permitting two hits and recording two strikeouts.

Offensively, Kim Ho-ryeong delivered one of the night’s signature performances, going 3-for-6 with two homers, four RBIs and two runs.

NC starter Koo Chang-mo lasted six innings, giving up three runs on seven hits (three homers) while striking out five and issuing one walk. Reliever Ryu Jin-wook took the loss after recording just one out and allowing four runs on three hits (one homer), with one walk and one strikeout.

NC struck first. In the bottom of the first, with one out, Park Min-woo singled to left. Park Gun-woo then crushed Lee Ui-ri’s third pitch — a 149 km/h fastball — over the right-field wall for a two-run homer.

NC added to the lead in the bottom of the second when Chun Jae-hwan launched a 120-meter solo shot over the left fielder’s head, stretching the lead to 3-0.

KIA answered in the top of the fourth. Leadoff hitter Kim Ho-ryeong homered on Koo Chang-mo’s third pitch, a 133 km/h forkball, cutting the deficit to 3-1.

Riding that momentum, KIA tied the game with back-to-back homers in the fifth. After Oh Seon-woo struck out to open the inning, Han Jun-su belted a 125-meter solo shot to right. Park Min followed with a drive to left-center to even the score at 3-3.

The game remained a seesaw battle. In the bottom of the sixth, NC regained a 4-3 lead when a throwing error by the second baseman allowed a run to score with one out and runners on first and second. KIA answered in the top of the eighth when Han Jun-su drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk to tie it at 4-4. Neither team scored over the final three innings, sending the game to extras.

KIA seized control in the 10th. After one out, Han Jun-su doubled and Park Min was hit by a pitch. Park Jae-hyun followed with an RBI double to put KIA ahead 5-4. With runners on second and third, Kim Ho-ryeong then crushed a three-run homer to deep center, effectively putting the game away.

Later in the inning, Kim Do-young added an RBI single to right-center off Ha Jun-young, and KIA plated five runs in the 10th to extend the lead to 9-4.

NC threatened in the bottom of the 10th, drawing back-to-back walks to Davidson and Park Si-won to load the bases with two outs, but Shin Jae-in flew out to center to end the game.

[Sports Today reporter Shin Seo-young sports@stoo.com]
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