The Fukuoka Softbank Hawks zeroed in their second consecutive Pacific League pennant after a 2-0 win over the Orix Buffaloes Wednesday night.

Nobuhiro Matsuda homered in the ninth inning and Rick van den Hurk threw eight scoreless innings en route to his ninth win of the season to bring the Hawks' magic number to clinch the title down to one.

A win coupled with a defeat by the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters would have sealed the championship for the Hawks, but Nippon Ham beat the Chiba Lotte Marines to put Fukuoka's title celebrations on hold for at least 24 hours.