TAICHUNG, Taiwan (Yonhap News) ― South Korean baseball champions Samsung Lions defeated Fortitudo Bologna of Italy 5-2 to open the Asia Series tournament in Taiwan on Friday.

At Intercontinental Baseball Stadium, Lee Seung-yeop belted a tie-breaking three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth, powering the three-time reigning KBO champs past the Italian club.

The Lions will next face the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions, the reigning Taiwanese champions, on Sunday at Taoyuan International Baseball Stadium.

The two Lions and Fortitudo Bologna are paired in Group A. The EDA Rhinos, the runner-up in Taiwan, the Australian champion Canberra Cavalry and the Japanese champion Rakuten Golden Eagles are in Group B.

The score was tied at 2-2 when Lee stepped up to the plate against Fortitudo’s left-hander Junior Oberto. With runners on first and second, Lee quickly fell behind the count 0-2. He patiently worked the count to full, before taking a hanging curveball over the right-field wall for the decisive blow.