CHIBA, Japan (Interstat) — Tomoya Masaki belted a three-run homer in the second inning, but the SoftBank Hawks and Chiba Lotte Marines played to a 3-3 tie Sunday afternoon at Chiba Marine Stadium. Masaki’s shot to left-center gave SoftBank a 3-0 lead. Lotte answered in the fifth, scoring three times. Misho Nishikawa grounded out to drive in a run and Koki Yamaguchi followed with a two-run homer to left-center, tying the game. SoftBank starter Haru Matsumoto allowed five hits and three earned runs over five innings, striking out seven. Six Hawks relievers combined for six shutout innings, with Roberto Osuna striking out three in the ninth. Fumiya Ono pitched two scoreless innings for Lotte. The Hawks outhit the Marines 11-9. Attendance was 25,941. The game lasted 4 hours, 23 minutes. SoftBank is 41-29-1, Lotte 34-33-1.