FUKUOKA, Japan (Interstat) — Kotaro Kurebayashi’s three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning gave Orix a short-lived lead, but SoftBank answered with a run in the bottom of the ninth to claim a 6-5 victory Thursday evening in front of 40,122 at Fukuoka Yahuoku! Dome.

The Hawks improved to 56-34-1, while the Buffaloes dropped to 44-45-2. The game lasted 3 hours, 34 minutes.

SoftBank starter Haru Matsumoto was the top star for the Hawks, allowing three hits and two earned runs over five innings with four strikeouts. He earned his first win of the season against two losses.

Orix took an early lead in the second inning. With two outs, Kotaro Kurebayashi was hit by a pitch, and Kenya Wakatsuki followed with a single to shallow center that scored Kurebayashi.

The Buffaloes added another run in the fifth. Kurebayashi led off with a single to shallow left, advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Wakatsuki and scored on Ryu Sugisawa’s single to shallow center.

SoftBank tied the game in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs, Yuudai Yamamoto doubled off the left-field line, and Keita Yamamoto doubled on the right-field line to drive him home.

The Hawks took command in the fifth. Isami Nomura singled to shallow left, and Tomoya Masaki smashed a home run to center field, scoring two runs. Ukyo Shuto then tripled on the right-field line but was stranded.

SoftBank extended its lead in the seventh when Kensuke Kondoh hit a solo home run to right-center, making it 4-2.

In the eighth, the Hawks added another run. With two outs and runners on first and second, Kondoh singled to shallow center, bringing home Nomura for a 5-2 advantage.

Orix mounted a dramatic comeback in the ninth. Yuma Mune singled to shallow right, and Keita Nakagawa walked. After a flyout, Kurebayashi launched a home run to left field, scoring three runs and giving Orix a 5-4 lead.

But SoftBank answered in the bottom of the ninth. Taisei Makihara singled to shallow right, and Yuudai Yamamoto reached on a pitcher’s error, putting runners on first and second. Hikaru Kawase sacrificed the runners to second and third. After an intentional walk to Tatsuru Yanagimachi loaded the bases, Yuki Yanagita singled over the center fielder, scoring Makihara with the winning run.

Kazuki Sugiyama of SoftBank earned the win, improving to 1-2. Ren Mukunoki of Orix took the loss, falling to 2-4.

Other key performances included Kondoh, who went 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs. Tomoya Masaki added a home run and two RBIs, finishing 1 for 3. Roberto Osuna threw a scoreless inning with two strikeouts. For Orix, Kurebayashi went 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBIs. Orix pitchers Kosei Yoshida, Kaito Iriyama and Reo Yamaguchi each turned in solid relief efforts.

The Hawks outhit the Buffaloes 12-7.

Orix had lost the previous game 22-2 to SoftBank on Wednesday, but won the game before that 2-1 on Tuesday. The Buffaloes now return home to face the Chiba Lotte Marines for a three-game series starting Friday. SoftBank travels to face the Saitama Seibu Lions for a three-game set beginning Friday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of SoftBank 6, Orix 3. Its ELO system gave SoftBank a 66.40 percent probability of winning. The Hawks were installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 1.5. The total score of 11 runs went over the over/under line of 7.5.