◆ Pacific League: Softbank Hawks vs. Rakuten Eagles (16th, Kitakyushu)
Softbank Hawks... Yuki Yanagita outfielder gave up the first three runs.
In the first inning, Shuto, batting leadoff for the first time in seven games, hit a single to left field. Kondo followed with a Walk, putting runners on first and second with no outs. The runners advanced on a ground ball to first base by Kurihara, the third batter, and with one out and runners on second and third, Yanagida stepped up to the plate. He connected with the first pitch slider from Rakuten Eagles 's first-round draft pick, Fujiwara, sending it to the left of the center field scoreboard.
He hit his third home run of the season, a three-run shot, his first in four games, and seized control of the game.
![[Scoreboard] Softbank Hawks vs. Rakuten Eagles](/asset/img/news/source/logo_hochi.png){kind=logo}
![[Softbank Hawks] Ukyo Shuto returns to the lineup as the leadoff hitter and center fielder after a 7-game absence, igniting the offense that has recorded 5 hit 2 runs in two consecutive games.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/04/16/20260416-OHT1I51305-L.jpg)
![[Softbank Hawks] Hotaka Yamakawa hits a timely single to left field that breaks the shift to tie the game. "I was focused on getting a hit in this opportunity." Kensuke Kondo steals stolen base for the first time in two seasons and scores.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/04/15/20260415-OHT1I51400-L.jpg)
![[Softbank Hawks] Akira Nakamura hits a ground ball to second base, and pinch Yudai Shoji scores with a headfirst slide! They tie the game again in the 7th inning.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/04/15/20260415-OHT1I51453-L.jpg)
