BLACKTOWN, Australia -- Japan's shot at gold in Olympic softball slipped through Shiroi Koseki's fingers Tuesday night, ending the team's impressive winning streak but leaving it covered in silver.
Running backward, the 28-year-old left-fielder got her glove to a ball that Laura Berg of the U.S. had smacked off ace pitcher Juri Takayama with the score even in the bottom of the eighth inning with one out and runners on first and second base.
But it didn't stick as Kosei tumbled backward, losing her tenuous grasp on the ball and allowing pinch runner Jennifer McFalls to tear home for the U.S. team.