Knowing they will not be promoted, Maeno's third-year players stop playing hard, but after the portable team manager, Hiroko "Tubby" Ōkubo, tells Makihara that Daimon injured Maeno's head as the latter pleaded to give a third-year player a spot, Makihara plays with renewed effort. At the end of eight innings, Ko notices that if the score remains 5 to 3, he will win his bet with Aoba. In the top of the ninth, the portable team gets runners on first and second and Makihara advances them with a sacrifice bunt. Ko hits both runners in with a single to tie the game. While Ko is on base, Azuma criticizes his pitching, to which Ko says he did not expect Azuma could hit him. In the bottom of the ninth with a runner on first, Azuma comes to bat and deliberately fouls out twice before being struck out by Ko. On the bench, Azuma silently tells Ko to stop smirking, and the next batter hits in the runner to win the game. Afterward, Ko visits Wakaba's grave to tell her about his debut, only to find Aoba had been there first.
プレハブ組と1軍との試合は7回裏を迎え、3対5と1軍がリードをしている。疲労から投球が崩れたかに見えた光ではあったが、スピードに専念してからは立ち直り、1軍打者を3者3振にする。そして、光がサイクルヒット達成となる一打を放ち、同点とするプレハブ組。9回裏、光は東と4度目の対決をすることに…。
가건물 팀 대 1군의 시합은 7회 초를 맞이한다. 3 대 5로 1군이 앞서는 상황. 지쳐서 투구가 흔들리는 듯 보였던 코우는 제구를 버리고 구속에만 집중하면서 1군 타자들을 3구 3진으로 막는다. 하지만 가건물 팀 3학년들은 자기가 1군에 올라갈 가망이 없음을 안 뒤, 의욕 없는 플레이로 팀의 발목을 잡는다. 1군 에이스 카미카와를 공략하지 못해 내몰리는 가건물 팀. 하지만, 마에노 감독의 연기에 3학년들이 의욕을 내기 시작하고, 동점의 기회를 만들어 내는데...?!
