On June 27, at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, baseball teams Kiwoom Heroes and NC Dinos played a game celebrating "Sookmyung Women's University Day." The game was held at Kiwoom's home ground and at Kiwoom's invitation, more than 600 students, professors and staff from SMWU attended. Students and professors at the stadium all received a support towel with the slogan "Kiwoom Heroes X Sookmyung Women's University" and showed their support in various ways, such as tying them around their wrists and neck or wearing them on their heads. The game was also attended by SMWU students of a diverse group of baseball fans, not only Kiwoom but also from other baseball teams such as Hanwha, Doosan, and even NC. This mix of supporters created a unique and vibrant atmosphere, as it was fascinating to observe fans passionately cheering for their respective teams while sharing the same space. The presence of such a varied fan base added an extra layer of excitement and made the event even more interesting, as rival fans interacted and enjoyed the game together. Each student received a 6,000 won snack coupon. Many took advantage of this to grab a snack and started enjoying them before the game started. Classic baseball game snacks from beer and churros to tasty meals like cream shrimp, hot dogs and pizzas enhanced the game-day experience. Before the game started, the ceremonial first pitch was thrown by former SMWU president, Professor Jang Yoon-geum, and the first batting was performed by SMWU mascot Noonsong. The national anthem was sung by the school vocal and instrumental choirs and the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) performed a yedomu, which is a dance using various postures and swords.
As the game started, many people began cheering and chanting, and showed their excitement for the match. The first inning went smoothly while in the second inning Kiwoom No.7 hitter Byun Sang-kwon hit a home run, putting Kiwoom ahead. There was even an SMWU student who caught a home-run ball. The students cheered even louder when the fourth inning Kiwoom No.1 hitter Lee Joo-hyun also hit a home run. However, NC player Matt Davidson hit a home run in the fifth inning and NC player Kwon Hee-dong followed suit in the sixth inning, making the game tense and unpredictable. In the fourth and fifth innings, various events related to SMWU, including OX quizzes, were held, and mascot Noonsong merchandise like notebooks and stickers were given out. During the cleaning break, SMWU's cheerleading squad NiVis performed near the first-base dugout to cheer on the Kiwoom Heroes. Additionally, a dance event was held for students to showcase their dance moves. For this event, three SMWU students came up and did trendy dances, receiving an enthusiastic response from the crowd. Despite a tense game, the score remained unchanged after the seventh inning, and with the students' enthusiastic support, the Kiwoom Heroes secured a 9:7 victory. After the match, Seo Young-chae, Department of Businesss Administration '24, said, "After watching the game, I fell in love with Kiwoom Heroes because of the charming songs and cheers for the players. There was also a special opportunity to take a photo with Noonsong as well as Kiwoom's mascot. It was so much fun!" Thanks to Kiwoom's invitation, many SMWU students and professors were able to enjoy the game and have an unforgettable experience.
