League-leading KT Wiz moved one step closer to securing a direct ticket to the Korean Series (KS).

In an away match against the KIA Tigers at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field today (September 29), KT secured a come-from-behind 8-5 victory in 10 innings, propelled by Ahn Hyun-min's decisive triple in the 10th.

With their second consecutive win, front-runner KT maintained a three-game lead over the second-place Samsung Lions, reducing their magic number for capturing the regular-season title on their own terms to 7.

KIA held the initiative for the majority of the game.

KIA's Kim Do-young, who recently returned from the Asian Games, launched a two-run home run in his very first plate appearance in the bottom of the first inning to open the scoring.

With his 41st home run of the season, Kim widened his lead to two over co-runners-up Austin Dean of LG and Sam Hilliard of KT, who both have 39.

Additionally, Kim surpassed Tracy Sanders, who hit 40 home runs in 1999, to set a new single-season franchise record for home runs by a KIA player.

Seeking a counterattack, KT answered in the top of the second when Kim Hyun-soo blasted a grand slam over the right-field wall to flip the score to 4-2.

However, KIA tied the game in the bottom of the third on a two-run homer to right-center by Harold Castro, followed immediately by back-to-back solo home runs from Na Sung-bum to recapture a 5-4 lead.

KIA's lead, which held firm deep into the game, slipped away in the end.

In the top of the ninth with two outs and the bases loaded, KT's Kim Sang-su drew a bases-loaded walk off KIA closer Lee Eui-lee, forcing the game into extra innings.

In the top of the 10th with runners on second and third with no outs, Ahn Hyun-min drove in two runs with a triple, and Sam Hilliard followed with a sacrifice fly, turning the tide to 8-5.

Ahn, who was hit by pitches in three consecutive plate appearances on this day, reached base six times going 2-for-2 with four free passes to steer his team to victory.

In Daegu, the Samsung Lions banged out 13 hits overall to defeat the Hanwha Eagles 10-5.

Samsung seized the early momentum in the bottom of the first when Kim Sung-yoon launched a two-run home run over the right-field fence.

In the second inning with the bases loaded and no outs, Samsung tacked on four runs as Lee Jae-hyeon hit a double, Kim Ji-chan hit a sacrifice fly, and Kim Sung-yoon followed up with another double, pulling ahead 6-0.

Hanwha clawed back three runs in the top of the seventh when Noh Si-hwan tripled and scored on a subsequent groundout, followed by a two-run homer to right by Jung Eun-won.

However, Samsung sealed the outcome in the bottom of the seventh with no outs and the bases loaded, as Choi Hyung-woo drove in a run with a sacrifice fly before Kang Min-ho smashed a three-run homer over the left-field stands.

Samsung starting pitcher Chris Paddec pitched six scoreless innings, allowing just four hits while striking out nine.

In Jamsil, where the fifth and sixth-place teams clashed, the Doosan Bears defeated the NC Dinos 5-2, bringing them to the doorstep of a postseason berth.

NC drew first blood in the top of the first on a triple by Cheon Jae-hwan and an RBI single by Park Min-woo, and added another run in the second on Oh Tae-yang's double to pull ahead 2-0.

Doosan tied the game in the bottom of the second with one out and the bases loaded when Jung Soo-bin hit an RBI single to right, and then took a 3-2 lead after an RBI single by Ahn Jae-seok with two outs.

In the bottom of the third, Doosan extended its lead to 5-2 thanks to a solo home run by Yang Eui-ji and a double by Cho Su-huk.

Having secured the upper hand, Doosan preserved the win as starting pitcher Wes Benjamin left after yielding two runs over five innings, followed by relief outings from Takada Takuto (two innings), Kim 택-yeon (one inning), and Lee Young-ha (one inning).

NC starting pitcher Lee Jae-hak gave up three runs on four hits and two walks over two innings, falling to his ninth consecutive loss.

In Incheon, the SSG Landers blanked the LG Twins 7-1, powered by a complete-game performance from Pedro Ávila.

As Ávila dominated on the mound, SSG manufactured two runs in the bottom of the first courtesy of back-to-back doubles by Park Seong-han and Choi Ji-hoon, aided by an LG throwing error.

In the third, Guillermo Heredia and Jeon Eui-san hit back-to-back home runs to extend the lead to 4-0.

LG fought back in the top of the fourth when Park Hae-min hit a solo home run, but SSG immediately answered after changing sides as Park Seong-han drove in two runs with a single to widen the gap to 6-1.

In the seventh, Go Myung-jun added a run via a sacrifice fly to put the game out of reach.

SSG starter Ávila allowed eight hits through nine innings while striking out six and conceding just one run to pick up his second complete-game win of the season.

Third-place LG fell to its third straight loss.

In Busan, the seventh-place Lotte Giants defeated the Kiwoom Heroes 4-2, pulling themselves temporarily out of the danger of postseason elimination.

Kiwoom opened the scoring in the top of the first when Matt Davidson launched a two-run homer.

Lotte tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run home run by Han Dong-hee.

In the bottom of the seventh with one out and a runner on first, veteran Jeon Jun-woo hit a double to right field, and a subsequent opponent error brought home the go-ahead run to make it 3-2.

Lotte solidified its grip on the game by adding another run on a sacrifice fly by Sohn Sung-bin, stretching the lead to 4-2.

Last-place Kiwoom suffered its 10th consecutive defeat against Lotte.

Kiwoom starting pitcher Jeon Jun-pyo surrendered four runs (three earned) on six hits over six innings, absorbing his sixth loss of the season without a win.

(Photo: Yonhap News)