Game box score

photo by Kim, Gyeom / The University Life

Kyung Hee University (KHU) and Jeju Tourism University (JTU) faced off in a 2025 Korea University Sports Federation U-League baseball game held in Wonju, Gangwon-do Province, at noon on April 4. Although the game was tense at first, KHU scored in four consecutive innings starting from the sixth, edging out JTU with a 9-4 victory.

A KHU player warms up with batting practice before the game

photo by Kim, Gyeom / The University Life

KHU Scores First, But JTU Turns the Game Around

KHU managed to score the first two runs in the second inning. Back-to-back hits and a balk earned them the first run, and a groundball out with a runner on third base added another run, giving KHU a 2-0 lead.

However, JTU quickly struck back in the fourth inning. They produced three hits and two walks in the inning, turning the game to 3-2.

​ Players from both teams gather on the field before the game

 photo by Kim, Gyeom / The University Life

KHU Dominates the Last Half of the Game

KHU got the chance to regain the lead in the fifth inning. Another back-to-back hits from the top of the lineup and a wild pitch put the runners in scoring position. Then, two consecutive sacrifice flies made the score 4-3 KHU. This was a pivotal moment for them.

KHU pitchers did not allow any runs for the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, even though they allowed a double in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively. On the other hand, JTU pitchers seemed to have trouble with their pitches. They threw wild pitches for four innings in a row from the fifth inning and recorded a second balk in the sixth, allowing KHU to add another run. 

KHU Pitcher Jeong Won-yeong, the captain, takes the mound to close out the game

photo by Kim, Gyeom / The University Life

KHU dominated the latter half of the game by adding extra runs in the seventh and eighth innings. In the seventh, they scored on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly. Then in the eighth, a single was followed by a hit-by-pitch and a stolen base, further widening the score gap.

JTU attempted to close the gap, but they failed to score after the fourth inning, except for one run in the eighth. At last, the game ended with the score 9-4 in a nearly three-hour battle between the two teams.

JTU’s Mishaps: The Factor of Victory

KHU’s victory in this game was backed by its strong offense with double-digit hits and solid pitching that struck out 11 batters during the game. However, the mishaps of JTU’s battery — the pitcher and catcher — were a key factor that fueled KHU’s momentum.

Both balks committed by two JTU pitchers directly resulted in runs. Besides, they allowed 12 runners to reach first base via walks and hit-by-pitches, which played a huge role in the game.

In addition, JTU players’ three failed stolen base attempts — two of which occurred in the final inning — were also critical.

KHU indeed showed outstanding performances both in defense and offense during the game. Yet, those mishaps throughout the game worked against JTU’s plan to take back the lead after the first half.

KHU players gather around their coach for a post-game talk

photo by Kim, Gyeom / The University Life

Cheering for Their Sons and Teammates

More than the tense match itself, the excitement was amplified by the participants’ active encouragement.

Parents of the players from both teams showed incredible enthusiasm in cheering for their sons throughout the game. Since there were no bleachers in the ballpark, most parents just sat on the grass while others brought folding chairs to sit on.

As the game went on, many began to shout the players’ names or even voiced dissatisfaction toward the umpires. In one instance, after a catcher caught a foul ball near the net, a parent yelled, “It hit the net!” insisting that the catch should not count as an out.

Players and coaches from both dugouts raised their voices to encourage their pitchers on the mound as well. When KHU players took the field, fielders standing behind the pitcher kept shouting words of encouragement and praise to boost the pitcher’s confidence. They offered the supportive phrases like, “Nobody can hit your ball!” — pitch by pitch throughout the game.

Freshmen in the Game

Freshman players from both teams made notable appearances throughout the game. Of the 17 players who took the field, 16 were freshmen, highlighting the team's reliance on young talent. Despite being new to the collegiate stage, the team’s freshmen showed confidence at the plate — collecting six hits, with four of them being extra-base hits.

As for KHU, five first-year players saw action during the game, underscoring the team’s focus on developing new talent early in the season.

KHU has started this season with two straight wins, including a dominant 17-1 called-game victory in the fifth inning against Seoul National University the day before. They will now face other teams in the group, including Kyungmin University and Yeoju Institute of Technology, in the following week.