Davidson-Smith Wins Gold At Pan American Games

SANTIAGO, Chile – Mia Davidson-Smith has brought home her second gold medal with Team USA as the Americans completed an undefeated run at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.
 
The Eagles outscored their opponents 60-8 while going 7-0 on the field to improve the United States’ Pan American Games record to 106-5. It marked the Americans’ 10th gold medal in 12 editions of the event.
 
Davidson-Smith reached base four times in five games. She crushed a three-run homer in Team USA’s opening 18-0 victory against Chile, and the former Bulldog went on to add two walks and a hit-by-pitch to her line. She was perfect defensively while recording six putouts behind the plate.
 
Mississippi State was also represented by pitcher Cassady Knudsen on the Venezuelan national team. Knudsen pitched 5.2 innings across three appearances. She struck out 11 without allowing a walk. Her most-impressive outing was a 4.0-inning, complete-game shutout against Chile to close pool play.
 
Davidson-Smith has now competed in three events with the women’s national team, playing in last year’s Pan American Championship, the 2023 WBSC World Cup Group Stage and her most-recent medal-winning performance. The Americans have punched their ticket to next summer’s WBSC World Cup, which will be played in Italy.
 
Softball will return to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028. It will be the first time Team USA competes in Olympic softball on home soil since the sport was introduced at the 1996 Atlanta games. The Americans have won five Olympic medals and played in every gold medal game in Olympic history.
 
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