Japan beat Australia; both tied at 2-1 on top of Group A

World No. 1 Japan came from behind to beat No. 15 Australia, 4-1, to end Day 3 of the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2024. It was the first loss for Australia. The U-23 Samurai used a four-run fifth at-bat to take a lead they wouldn't surrender.

Takanori Takahashi singled off Aussie starter Kieren Hall with one out in the top of the second to record the game's first hit. Hall closed the at-bat, striking out Shinnosuke Nishimura with 150 kilometres (or 94 miles) per hour fastball.

In the bottom half of the frame, Australia got to Japanese starter Tyoju Goto with consecutive one-out singles by Jo Stevens, Cayden Nicoletto and Bailey-Jay Cooke. Goto struck out Jake Burns and got Benjamin Fierenzi on a pop to first.

Hall left with Kaito Yoshikawa at second, Takuya Yamada at first, and two outs in the top of the third. Australia handed the ball to left-hander Lachlan Brook, who needed just one pitch to retire Ryo Imazato on a grounder to second.

Australia took the lead in the bottom of the third. Goto walked Jaylin Rae to lead off the at-bat. Chris Burke doubled, bringing Rae to third. The bases loaded with a one-out walk, and Jo Stevens put Australia on the board with a single to centre. Goto got Nicoletto to ground into a double play to end the threat.

Oga Nishimura took over from Goto with one out in the top of the fourth.

Japan reversed the lead in the top of the fifth. Kaito Yoshikava led off with a single and advanced to third on a base hit by Ryo Arima. Takuya Yamada followed with a double to deep centre field, scoring both runners and reaching third on an error.

Australia relieved Brook with Dylan Clarke. The right-hander loaded the bases with a walk, then allowed a two-RBI single to Kota Takata, extending Japan's lead to 4-1.

Aren Sato and Yuto Hayashida got the final six outs for Japan.

Japan (2-1) will close Day 4 facing No. 11 Colombia (1-2). Australia (2-1) will play Great Britain (0-3) in the afternoon.