The unbeatable softball team almost suffered defeat.The United States endured a scare from Japan before roaring to a 4-1 extra-inning victory.The win moves the United States, the undisputed world power in softball, to its fourth straight gold-medal game.Left fielder Jessica Mendoza believes Tuesday’s close call will aid the team in the title game.”It will help calm nerves,” Mendoza said. “We were very emotional today. This will help us relax a little bit.”It wasn’t relaxing on Tuesday until Crystl Bustos ripped a three-run home run to left, finally clinching the win in the ninth inning.But before all the dancing and shouting and fun of the ninth, the U.S. endured unexpected drama. The Japanese stepped to bat in the seventh and eighth innings needing only to score to end the Americans’ long dominance.The Japanese never could solve lefthander Monica Abbott, who pitched a superlative game while her teammates’ bats slumbered. She saved the Americans gold-medal hopes.Until Tuesday, the U.S. had been pulverizing opponents.The Americans have won 22 straight Olympic games and seldom struggled.Japan and the U.S. had already met in this tournament, with the U.S. winning 7-0 while hammering four home runs.It was a different story Tuesday.Japanese pitcher Yukiko Ueno baffled American batters for eight innings before finally tiring. Ueno’s fastball was lively, moving away from American bats.”She pitched a great game,” said centerfielder Caitlin Lowe. “And the Japanese played great defense.”

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