The United States beat South Korea at the World University Baseball Championship in Chinese Taipei but will have to settle for the bronze medal match ©FISU

The United States beat South Korea at the World University Baseball Championship in Chinese Taipei but will have to settle for the bronze medal match.

Both countries lost their opening super round clashes at the Chiayi City Baseball Field - to Japan and the host nation respectively - so knew another defeat would end their chances of finishing in the top two.

In a close contest, the US edged home 3-2 to post their first win on the board but, with teams not playing the countries they met in the group phase, it did not prove enough to reach the final.

They will instead meet South Korea again for bronze with today's game turning into a dress rehearsal. 

Japan and Chinese Taipei will clash for gold with both medal matches taking place on Sunday (July 15).

Elsewhere today, Czech Republic beat Hong Kong 12-2 in a classification match.

More placement games are scheduled for tomorrow.

A new name is guaranteed to be on the trophy at this year's edition of the event - the first World University Baseball Championship held since 2010 - as defending champions Cuba are not competing.