Waseda University Baseball Team Opens Spring League with 2-0 Victory Over Tokyo University

Waseda University secured a 2-0 shutout victory against Tokyo University in the opening game of the 2026 Tokyo Big6 Baseball Spring League on Saturday, April 18, at Meiji Jingu Stadium. The contest began at 10:00 a.m. Local time (01:00 UTC) with Waseda batting second and occupying the first-base side dugout, as confirmed by the team’s official social media account.

The win marked Waseda’s first game of the spring league campaign, whereas Tokyo University entered the matchup having dropped its first two games against Meiji University, falling 2-3 in their opener.

Waseda struck early, scoring in the second inning when outfielder Takahiro Takahashi hit a solo home run to left field, giving the Bears an early 1-0 lead. The team added an insurance run in the fourth inning after shortstop Osamu Nagata drove in a run with a timely hit to left-center field, extending the lead to 2-0.

On the mound, starting pitcher Kosei Koyama delivered a strong performance for Waseda, working six innings while allowing no runs and recording multiple strikeouts. He was relieved by closer Shota Ogata, who preserved the shutout over the final three frames to secure the win.

Tokyo University’s starting pitcher, Shin Matsumoto, took the loss after yielding two runs over six innings, with reliever Akira Akashi closing out the game for the visitors.

The game featured a notable debut for Waseda freshman outfielder Yohta Abe, who batted leadoff and drew a walk in his first collegiate plate appearance. Abe, a former high school captain from Yokohama who led his team to a national championship, had declared for the Nippon Professional Baseball draft and was widely regarded as a potential first-round pick prior to enrolling at Waseda.

Abe’s offensive contribution continued in the third inning when he successfully executed a sacrifice bunt to advance a runner, demonstrating his ability to contribute in situational hitting despite being held hitless in his debut.

Defensively, Waseda received a boost in the second inning when center fielder Osamu Nagata made a diving catch in left-center field to rob Tokyo University of a potential hit, preventing a rally and preserving the shutout bid.

The victory improved Waseda’s standing in the early spring league race, while Tokyo University remained winless after three games. Both teams are scheduled to continue their spring league campaigns with Waseda facing Hosei University on April 26 and Tokyo University preparing for its next conference matchup.

As the Tokyo Big6 Spring League progresses, early-season performances like Waseda’s shutout opener will be critical in determining positioning for the upcoming autumn league and subsequent qualification for the All-Japan University Baseball Championship.

Fans can follow live updates and future game schedules through the official Waseda University Baseball Team website and the Tokyo Big6 League’s streaming partner, BIG6.TV, which provides real-time coverage of all conference games.

What are your thoughts on Waseda’s strong start to the 2026 spring league season? Share your predictions for how the Tokyo Big6 race will unfold in the comments below.