Kohei Miyadai has helped pull off some improbable wins for the University of Tokyo on the mound at Jingu Stadium this year. He traded in his Todai colors for the Hinomaru on Friday, but fell just short of being part of another magic moment.

U.S. outfielder Jeren Kendall drove in the only run of the game and Japan's Naoki Yoshikawa's long drive to center ended up as an out instead of a game-tying or sayonara hit, as the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team beat the Samurai Japan Collegiate National Team 1-0 on Friday night at Jingu Stadium. The Japanese lead the five-game series between the two nations 2-1.

"It just feels good to get the first one," said U.S. outfielder TJ Friedl. "It's a great win for us, great team win. A couple of tough losses our first two games, so it's good to get the first one under our belt and looking forward to the next two."