◇Saitama Seibu Lions vs Orix Buffaloes 1st Leg (31st, Belluna Dome)

Saitama Seibu Lions 's second-place draft rookie Hakua Iwaki pitcher made his first professional save.

In the top of the ninth inning with a two-run lead, pitcher Iwaki went up to his first professional mound and hit the leadoff hitter Kenya Wakatsuki with just one pitch to the right. However, when Kotaro Kobayashi allowed infield hit, he gave Walk to Taishi Hirooka players from 2 outs, and was in a pinch with 2 outs on 1st and 2nd base. Still, in the end, he missed Ryoma Nishikawa and finished it off with a struck out, recording his first professional save.

Iwaki pitcher, who joined the team from Chuo University with the second pick in the draft. In the open game, he appeared in 6 games as a reliever and continued his impressive pitch with 6 inning hit runs.

◇ Records of Hakua Iwaki pitcher
First appearance: March 31, 2026 Game Orix Buffaloes
First Save March 31, 2026 Orix Buffaloes Match