Australia has bowed out of the Olympic softball tournament with the bronze medal after being beaten by Japan in a marathon contest lasting 12 innings and more than three hours.
Japan scored in the bottom of the 12th to win 4-3 and go through to the gold medal match against the United States, leaving Australia with the bronze medal.
Australia had taken the game into extra innings after Kerry Wyborn slammed a home run in the seventh inning to tie the game at 2-2.
Stacey Porter then put the Australians ahead, running home after a base hit from Australian skipper Natalie Ward in the 11th inning.
But the Japanese equalised, and then went on to take the win when Masumi Mishina scored the winning run.
It is the last time softball will make an appearance at the Olympic Games, with the sport already withdrawn from the 2012 London Games.
Although disappointed with the result, the Australians hoped the standard of the match would convince the IOC to reinstate softball as an Olympic sport.
"If that doesn't get us back into the Olympics then I don't know what will," Spirit captain Natalie Ward said.
Australian coach Fabian Barlow was full of praise for both teams, saying: "I have no doubt that it was the best Olympic game of softball that has ever been played."
Australia's four-time Olympian Tanya Harding called for the sport to be immediately reinstated after the 2012.
"For it not to be included at London is very disappointing, but as you can see today it is a great sport with great athletes.
"I say 2016 bring on softball Jacques Rogge."