USA stage comeback and win gold
Olympic News Service/Reuters

A dropped catch at left field gave the USA its second straight Olympic gold
medal with a 2-1 come-from-behind win over Japan at Blacktown Olympic
Centre Tuesday.

Japan, who had gone undefeated through the tournament, had taken a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning, only to see the United States tie the game in the bottom of the fifth and then score again in the bottom of the eighth to win the gold.

After struggling through the preliminary matches and trailing 1-0 in the gold medal play-off, the USA pulled off one of the greatest comebacks to successfully defend its Olympic title.

The unheralded Japanese were unbeaten through the tournament until the final game, having ended a U.S. 112-game winning streak in the preliminary round, their first win over the powerful Americans in 30 years.

Japan opened the scoring with a solo home run to Reika UTSAGI (JAP) in the top of the fourth inning but USA levelled the scores in the bottom of the fifth when catcher Stacey NUVEMAN (USA) hit to centre field to run home
designated hitter Michele SMITH (USA), who made it to base on a walk.

Rain set in and a storm threatened at the end of the regulation seven innings with scores locked at 1-1 but play continued with the USA closing down Japan's first three batters in the top of the eighth.

With one out and two batters on base from walks, Laura BERG (USA) stepped up to the plate and hit to left field where Shioro KOSEKI gloved the ball before putting it down to allow NUVEMAN to score the winning run.

The USA came from fourth position on the ladder to win gold. After struggling
to win just four out of seven preliminary games, the USA struck back with a
semi-final win over China, preliminary final victory against Australia and the
gold medal win over previously undefeated Japan.

Host Australia won the bronze after losing 1-0 on Monday to the United States
in the game to see who played against Japan for gold.