The Japanese side became the first team to beat the Americans at this year's event as they secured their fourth World Cup of Softball crown at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex.

Japan, who won the softball gold medal the last time the sport featured at the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, had previously won the tournament in 2005, 2013 and 2016.

The result marked the second consecutive final where Japan had got the better of their American rivals, who were forced to settle for second place after an agonising defeat.

A two-run single at the top of the third inning proved crucial for Japan as Minami Sato's effort allowed Mana Atsumi and Natsuko Sugama to score.

The US halved the deficit at the bottom of the fourth, but it proved to be too little, too late as they were unable to find a way to level the match.

They did have a decent opportunity to tie or even snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the bottom of the seventh, but they could not quite convert as Japan held on.

Canada finished in third place after they ousted Australia 3-0, while the US women's junior team ended the tournament in fifth following a 7-0 thrashing of Puerto Rico.

The Philippines condemned Mexico to the bottom of the eight-team event with a thrilling 8-7 win.