World No. 4 USA beat No. 1 Japan, 4-3, in eight innings. Jillian Albayati, the lead tie-break runner, scored the winning run on a balk in the top of the eighth. Reliever Maggie Meidlinger got the final out on strikes with runners at third and second. It was Japan's first loss in a World Cup game since August 12, 2012, when they gave up, 5-2, to the US during pool play of the V Women's Baseball World Cup.
Valerie Perez led off the third, driving Japan's starter Ayami Sato's second pitch off the wall in left field. She became the first out, trying to turn a single into a double.
Japan got the first hit against US starter Jamie Baum in the bottom half of the frame. Nanako Hanabusa singled on a pop to shallow right field and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Baum got out of the inning with a couple of groundouts.
The US took the lead in the top of the fourth. Kelsie Whitmore reached on a one-out single. Remi Schaber brought her to third with a two-out single to left-centre. Jillian Albayati turned Sato's fifth pitch into a three-run homer to left field.
Akari Hoshikawa reached on a one-out double in the bottom half of the frame. Baum hit Miwa Naraoka, then got out of the inning with a pair of groundouts.
Kae Iwami reached on a one-out single in the bottom of the fifth and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ayaka Deguchi put Japan on the scoreboard with a single up the middle. Baum got out of the inning, getting Iori Miura ground into a double play to shortstop.
Yuna Tsuchiya relieved Sato in the top of the sixth.
Miwa Tanaka led off the botton of the sixth with a single. Baum walked Hoshikawa, then got Naraoka to ground into a double play to third. Hoshikawa reached second on the play. Baum also walked Nakamur, and Miu Shiraishi sent both runners home to tie the game with a double to left field. Hanabusa kept Japan's at-bat alive with a single. It was Baum's last batter.
With runners at the corners, the US called Megan Meidlinger from the bullpen. The right-hander retired Iwami on a fly to centre to get out of the inning.
Wakana Mori took the mound for Japan in the seventh.
Iori Miura reached on a one-out error in the bottom of the seventh. She stole second and would have scored on Yuki Kawabata's grounder. US shortstop Valerie Perez stopped the ball with a diving catch and got the third out at first.
Japan won it in the first extra-inning. Perez bunted the tie-break runners Albayati to third and Benites to second. Mori walked Naomi Ryan to load the bases, then struck out Ashton Lansdell but allowed the go-ahead run on a balk. She got Hugo swinging to get out of the at-bat.
In the bottom of the eighth, Naraoka bunted the tie-break runners Kawabata to third and Hoshikawa to second. Ryan got the second out on a foul-territory po by Nakamura. Maidlinger struck out Shiraishi to give the US the win.
The United States will have the home team advantage in the World Championship Final, scheduled for Saturday, August 3, at 15:00 (local time).
