SIDELINES : College Series Goes to Japan

Eiji Ochiai and Katsuhito Osaka allowed only five hits and pitched Japan to an 8-2 victory over the United States today, assuring itself of winning the annual best-of-five college series.

Japan won the opening game 1-0 and the second game 3-1.

Japan has won the series seven times, including five times in a row at home. The Americans have won 12 times.

Ochiai yielded only one hit in five innings, and Osaka gave up four hits and struck out seven in four innings.

The fourth game will be played Thursday in Hamamatsu.