World No. 2 Japan defeated top-ranked USA, 2-1, in the first softball game of the Japan All Star Series, played today at Azuma Stadium in Fukushima, Japan, venue of the Tokyo 2020 baseball and softball Olympic competitions. The home team came from behind and walked off the world champions in the bottom of the seventh to clinch Game 1 victory.
It was another thriller between the best two softball teams in the world. USA scored the first run of the game in the top of the second, when Kinzie Hansen took advantage of a passed ball to put USA in front, 1-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, after three perfect innings tossed by US starter Ally Carda, Japan tied the score with their first hit of the game, a solo home run by leadoff hitter Nodoka Harada to center field.
The game was tied in the bottom of the seventh, when Yu Sakamoto led off the inning with a triple, and one out later scored the game-winning run on a grounder by Haruka Agatsuma.
Left handed Olympian Miu Goto went the distance for Japan and earned the win, allowing five hits and one run, while striking out 13 US batters.
Game two of the series will take place tomorrow at Azuma Stadium, at 2 p.m. local time. The third and final game of the series will be held at Yokohama Stadium, stage of last year’s Olympic Gold Medal Game.
