2026 Persol Climax Series Pacific League Final Stage Game 3: Softbank Hawks vs Nippon-Ham (16th, Mizuho PayPay)

Softbank Hawks infielder Yudai Shoji started as the number nine hitter and shortstop, and he hit a timely hit in his first at-bat.

In the third inning with one out and a runner on third, trailing by one run, he swung at a shootball from Nippon-Ham's Takayuki Kato on a 2-1 count. Despite getting jammed, the ball broke through the gap between first and second base against the drawn-in defense, resulting in a game-tying RBI single to right field.

In this match, a win or a draw would secure a spot in the Japan Series for the third consecutive year. A promising young player, who was also selected for the Japanese national team for the Asia Professional Baseball Championship in November, demonstrated a strong presence.