LAFAYETTE, La. -- It took 10 innings for Japan to do what hadn’t been done in 21 years, defeat the United States in the finals of the International Softball Federation (ISF) World Championship. USA, the nine time defending World Champions, came up just short in the 2012 finals falling to Japan 2-1 in 10 innings on Sunday.

The contest was scoreless through the first eight frames before Japan scratched the first run across in the top half of the ninth.

Former Ragin’ Cajuns outfielder Christi Orgeron recorded one of the three USA hits in the game and scored the lone run for the National Team in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game 1-1.

Japan would later score the go ahead run in the tenth, gaining their second lead of the day. USA was unable to get anything going in the bottom half as Japan hung on to capture the title.

With the loss the 2012 USA Softball season comes to a close. USA finished the World Championships with a 9-1 record, outscoring their opponents 86-6.

For the year, the young squad finished with a 23-2 record with their only losses coming to Japan, first in the Canadian Open International and then here at the ISF World Championship.

In 20 games with team USA, Orgeron hit .382 with nine RBI and 12 runs scored, while posting five doubles.