A bases-clearing eighth-inning double from Tetsuto Yamada pushed host nation Japan (4-0) to a 5-2 victory over the Republic of Korea (3-2) on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old Yamada delivered a massive 2-for-4 performance out of the leadoff spot with two doubles, a run scored and the three game-winning RBIs. A 10-year NPB veteran, Yamada is now hitting .313 (5-for-16) with seven RBIs through four games of Olympic baseball competition.

Korea came within inches of escaping the eighth inning unscathed, but a botched double play allowed Japan’s Kensuke Kondoh to reach base and begin the game’s decisive rally. Korean pitcher Go Woo-suk missed first base multiple times attempting to cover the bag and umpires ruled Kondoh safe at first even after he was tagged turning into fair territory following the play.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw 5 1/3 innings and recorded nine strikeouts to start the game for Japan before giving way to a trio of bullpen arms who helped secure the victory. Hiromi Itoh was credited with the win while Ryoji Kuribayashi recorded his second save of the tournament.

Japan, searching for its first gold medal in Olympic baseball, now advances directly to the gold medal game of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. South Korea will face the United States (3-1) in another semifinal contest Thursday, with the winner of that game meeting Japan in the championship on Saturday. The U.S. previously beat South Korea, 4-2, in group play this past weekend.