Shaw, Team USA Win WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Group Stage

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Mississippi State softball assistant coach Zac Shaw and the United States' Men's National Team went undefeated to win Group C at the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup this week and have advanced to next year's Men's Softball World Cup Final in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.

The Americans went 6-0 while claiming four run-rule victories in the Group Stage. They will join world No. 1 Argentina and No. 10 New Zealand (Group B) and No. 14 Dominican Republic and No. 2 Australia (Group A) along with the second-place team from their own group which will be determined by a final game between Japan and Guatemala this evening.

Additionally, the two third-place teams with the best record will advance as wild cards. Canada, as the host nation, has already advanced, leaving the final wild card spot between the loser of tonight's final Group C game and Venezuela (Group A).

Shaw, who was named captain of Team USA prior to the tournament, started every game, rotating between second base and shortstop. He batted .462 and posted a 1.434 OPS that ranked third on Team USA and seventh in the tournament. He reached base in all but one game and drew four walks, which was tied for fourth in the tournament.

The Bulldog assistant was 3-for-3 with a triple and a stolen base against the Netherlands, and he drew a pair of walks against South Africa, one of which ended the game by bringing home the run that resulted in a walk-off, run-rule victory.

Following the round-robin opening round, Shaw launched a solo homer in Saturday's No. 1-seed vs. No. 2-seed game against Japan. That at-bat would also end the game early as it gave the Americans a 10-run lead in the bottom of the third. After the Japanese were retired without a run in the top of the fourth, the game was called under the WBSC run rule.

Shaw is one of 12 returners on the roster from the Americans' bronze medal performance at the 2022 WBSC Men's World Cup, which snapped a 22-year medal drought. He started all nine games for the Red, White and Blue that year.

The Odessa, Missouri, native joined the staff at Mississippi State in the fall of 2022 as a volunteer assistant before being elevated to a full-time role prior to the 2024 season. He works primarily with the Bulldog infielders and assists with hitting.

For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."

Zac Shaw Game-by-Game Stats

Opponent	GP-GS	AVG	AB	R	H	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	OBP	SLG	PO	A	FLD
9/17 – W, 3-0 vs. Colombia	1-1	.000	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	.500	.000	0	1	1.000
9/18 – W, 7-0 (5) vs. Guatemala	1-1	.333	3	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	.333	.333	0	0	--
9/18 – W, 11-0 (5) vs. Netherlands	1-1	1.000	3	2	3	1	0	0	0	0	1	1.000	1.667	1	1	1.000
9/19 – W, 9-5 vs. Japan	1-1	.000	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000	.000	1	1	1.000
9/20 – W, 11-4 (6) vs. South Africa	1-1	.500	2	2	1	0	0	1	2	0	0	.750	.500	0	0	--
9/21 – W, 10-0 (4) vs. Japan	1-1	1.000	1	2	1	0	1	1	1	0	0	1.000	4.000	1	1	1.000
Tournament Totals	6-6	.462	13	6	6	1	1	4	4	1	1	.588	.846	3	4	1.000

For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."

Mississippi State University Athletics

Shaw, Team USA Win WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Group Stage

Related Videos