Kodai Senga went seven innings to win a pitchers' duel with Naoyuki Uwasawa as the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks beat the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters 1-0 to remain on top of the Pacific League on Saturday.

Senga (10-2) struck out nine, walked two and surrendered five hits before 38,585 at Yafuoku Dome. Sho Iwasaki and Livan Moinelo combined to shut down the Fighters in the eighth.

Dennis Sarfate completed the five-hit shutout in the ninth, recording his 37th save. The 36-year-old right-hander is now six saves away from the PL record he set last season.