Updated: July 16, 2009, 12:06 PM ET
Japan rallies in 9th, wins in 11
TOKYO -- Japan took advantage of two errors in the bottom of the 11th inning to defeat the United States 8-7 in the deciding fifth game of the college baseball championship series.
Shuta Koike walked and advanced to third on a throwing error by pitcher Sonny Gray. Masayoshi Kato then hit a grounder to shortstop Christian Colon, who committed an error, allowing Koike to score the winning run.
The Americans took a 7-4 lead in Thursday's game with three runs in the top of the ninth, but the Japanese team scored three in the bottom of the inning to send the game into extra innings.
Yusuke Nomura picked up the win after holding the Americans scoreless in the final two innings. Gray took the loss.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
