◆ Pacific League Seibu Lions 0-3 Softbank Hawks (26th, Belluna Dome)

Softbank Hawks finished the first half of the season with a victory. They scored three runs against Hikaru Takahashi, against whom they had lost all four previous games this season, and combined for shutout game. The opening run was called out by third base coach Takashi Onishi, outfield defense base base running and strategy coach.

Yu Maeda, aiming for an eight-game winning streak to start the season, set the pace with a fast-paced pitch, leading to the fifth inning's inning. With one out, Megumi Yamamoto hit a single to right, marking the team's first hit. Makihara Dai connected with a single to center, and Kawase expanded the chance with a Walk. Masaki, who came to bat with one out and bases loaded, flied out to left with a count 1-1 score.

The fly ball was hit towards left-center field, but it was a shallow one. Third base runner Megumi Yamamoto considered tagging up, but made her decision near the base. Coach Onishi then jogged over to her side and shouted, "Go! Go! Go!" Without hesitation, she sprinted towards home plate, sliding in headfirst to score. They had successfully taken the lead.

This season, they have been closer to just two runs in 32 inning over four games by Takahashi Hikaru. Reflecting on his decision, he said, "It was a close call, and there was a very high chance of getting out. But with two outs bases loaded, even for Yuki (Shuto), it's not statistically certain whether he can get a hit off Takahashi (Hikaru). He's closer so many times before, so I felt that if we were going to score a run, we had to go for it." The excellent base running of second runner Makihara Dai and first runner Kawase, who advanced well after noticing throw was high on the sacrifice fly, also shone through.

Immediately afterwards, with two outs and runners on second and third base, Shuto hit a two-run triple. These three runs secured win. "The players are the ones who go, but I'm responsible for whether they're out or safe at home plate. I wanted them to go for it," said Coach Onishi. With the game looking like it would be a close contest from the start, Manager Kokubo also praised base running that produced the big opening runs, saying, "It was a great decision by Coach Onishi."