Softbank's Kenji Otonari held the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles hitless through six innings but the Hawks wasted the stellar outing to tie 0-0 in 12 innings on Thursday night.
The fifth-year Otonari gave up a leadoff double to Ryo Hijirisawa in the seventh and did not allow another hit before departing after the eighth with the score 0-0 at Kleenex Stadium.
It turned out to be Rakuten's only hit all game as relievers Masahiko Morifuku, Brian Falkenborg and Takahiro Mahara finished out a one-hitter.