The national baseball team beat Japan 4-1 on Wednesday to advance to the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic (WBC).

The South Koreans, winners of Olympic gold in Beijing last summer, jumped out to a 3-0 lead on three hits off Japan's starter Yu Darvish in the first inning. Lee Bum-ho drew a bases-loaded walk in the eighth inning to secure Korea’s spot in the semifinals.

South Korean starter Bong Jung-keun gave up only one run over five and a third. Pitchers Yoon Suk-Min, Kim Kwang-Hyun and Lim Chang Yong closed out the game without giving up another run.

South Korea will face the winner of Thursday’s game between Cuba and Japan to determine the winner of Pool 1.