Hikaru Matsuda homers, pitches Japan to win against New Zealand

Two-way player Hikaru Matsuda was the highlight of the Japanese team in today’s 7-4 victory against New Zealand, for the Placement Round of the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup. Matsuda hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning and tossed four innings to lead his team to victory. New Zealand outhit Japan 10-7.

Japan scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning, when Kazuya Toriyama brought in Tei Hamamoto with a single up the middle. However, Reilly Makea tied the match for New Zealand with a bomb to left field.

In the third frame and with the bases loaded, Yusuke Morita cleared the bases with a two-out triple deep into center field, and then scored on a single by Ryoyu Une. Japan would never lose the advantage in the game, even when New Zealand fought hard to come back into the game.

In the bottom half of the third, Joel Evans homered to left field; and one inning later New Zealand scored twice with a solo homer by Pita Rona and a sacrifice fly by Cole Evans, putting the score 5-4. 

However, Japan answered in the top of the fifth with a towering two-run homer by Hikaru Matsuda, to give his team a definitive three-run lead.

Two-way player Matsuda was the winner of the game, pitching four innings in relief with four Ks, five hits and two runs.  

Japan is still on top of the Placement Round standings with four wins and no losses, while New Zealand dropped to 3-1.