The Southeastern Conference’s all-time softball home run leader is back on the world stage this week with Team USA as the Americans compete in the WBSC Women’s World Cup starting Monday in Castions di Strada, Italy.
Former Mississippi State superstar Mia Davidson-Smith is representing her country for the fourth time, having previously played for Team USA last summer in Ireland at the WBSC World Cup Group Stage to qualify for the finals. She reached base in every plate appearance as the Americans won all four of their games.
Davidson-Smith spent five years in a Bulldogs uniform, bursting onto the scene as a freshman in 2018 with a .370 batting average, .762 slugging percentage and 19 home runs. She improved all of those numbers as a sophomore, blasting 26 homers while slugging .882 and walking more often than she struck out.
After the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and a slight dip in production in 2021, Davidson-Smith helped lead MSU to the super regionals for the first time in program history in 2022, with a .545 on-base percentage and 45 walks to go along with 23 home runs. Her 92 collegiate homers are sixth in NCAA history and more than any other SEC player.
Team USA defeated Canada 5-2 in the opening game of the World Cup on Monday. The Americans will play host Italy on Tuesday and China on Wednesday to wrap up pool play.
Bulldogs assistant coach Zac Shaw will also play for Team USA at the WBSC Men’s World Cup group stage in Oklahoma City in September. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the World Cup in 2025 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada. The Americans’ group includes Colombia, Guatemala, Japan, the Netherlands and South Africa.
Shaw helped Team USA win a bronze medal at the 2022 WBSC World Cup, the Americans’ first medal in 22 years. He started all nine games and batted .313 in pool play with five runs batted in. The 2025 season will be Shaw’s third on the staff at MSU, after he joined the program as a volunteer assistant in the fall of 2022 and was elevated to a full-time role prior to this past season.
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