#StateToTheShow: Women’s Pro Fastpitch Week 1
June 22, 2023 | Softball
STARKVILLE – The season couldn't have started any better for Fa Leilua, Chloe Malau'ulu and the Oklahoma City Spark. The expansion franchise has opened the year on a five-game winning streak and held a 4-1 lead in its season opener before that game was postponed by weather.
Leilua, who played three seasons at Mississippi State from 2019-21, has been on a tear, leading the league in homers (3) and ranking second in RBIs (5) and OPS (1.335). Meanwhile, Malau'ulu, State's most recent alum to reach the pro ranks, went 2-for-3 with a homer and an RBI double in her first career start.
OKC took two games from the Smash It Sports Vipers after the first matchup was postponed. Leilua had hit a solo homer in the opener to give the Spark a 4-0 lead before the Vipers brought in former Bulldog Annie Willis to get the final two outs of the inning. At that point, the weather forced the game to be delayed until a later date. The following day, Malau'ulu made her debut as a pinch runner before playing an inning in left field.
Willis started the series finale for the Vipers, throwing 3.1 innings and leaving with a 3-2 lead. However, the two runs she allowed came off the bat of Leilua as the Spark first baseman took her former teammate deep for a two-run blast. Leilua also walked and was hit by a pitch in the Spark's eventual 4-3 victory.
Malau'ulu started all three games of OKC's series with the USSSA Pride. As mentioned, she was 2-for-3 in the series opener, but later added an RBI single in the second game and was walked and stole a base in the series finale. Leilua hit a two-run homer and walked twice in the middle game of the series.
Willis had one appearance in the Vipers' series with the Texas Smoke. She threw 0.2 innings after errors behind her let an inning get away.
The Spark will now travel to Florida to face the Pride for three games on June 23-25. In the same stretch, the Vipers will return home to Alabama to host the Smoke. MSU's alumni meet again for three games in Oxford, Alabama, on June 27-29 to wrap up the second week of the season.
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Leilua, who played three seasons at Mississippi State from 2019-21, has been on a tear, leading the league in homers (3) and ranking second in RBIs (5) and OPS (1.335). Meanwhile, Malau'ulu, State's most recent alum to reach the pro ranks, went 2-for-3 with a homer and an RBI double in her first career start.
OKC took two games from the Smash It Sports Vipers after the first matchup was postponed. Leilua had hit a solo homer in the opener to give the Spark a 4-0 lead before the Vipers brought in former Bulldog Annie Willis to get the final two outs of the inning. At that point, the weather forced the game to be delayed until a later date. The following day, Malau'ulu made her debut as a pinch runner before playing an inning in left field.
Willis started the series finale for the Vipers, throwing 3.1 innings and leaving with a 3-2 lead. However, the two runs she allowed came off the bat of Leilua as the Spark first baseman took her former teammate deep for a two-run blast. Leilua also walked and was hit by a pitch in the Spark's eventual 4-3 victory.
Almost like she's seen that pitch before 👀 @leilua18 | #StateToTheShow https://t.co/fPJGIm74Zu
— Mississippi State Softball (@HailStateSB) June 17, 2023
Malau'ulu started all three games of OKC's series with the USSSA Pride. As mentioned, she was 2-for-3 in the series opener, but later added an RBI single in the second game and was walked and stole a base in the series finale. Leilua hit a two-run homer and walked twice in the middle game of the series.
Stay hot! @chloeetaliaa hits an RBI double off the wall!
— OKC Spark Softball (@okcityspark) June 20, 2023
END 6: Spark 6, Pride 0#BeTheSpark pic.twitter.com/JjJ2FSqhEV
Willis had one appearance in the Vipers' series with the Texas Smoke. She threw 0.2 innings after errors behind her let an inning get away.
The Spark will now travel to Florida to face the Pride for three games on June 23-25. In the same stretch, the Vipers will return home to Alabama to host the Smoke. MSU's alumni meet again for three games in Oxford, Alabama, on June 27-29 to wrap up the second week of the season.
Bulldog Alumni in WPF
Fa Leilua – Oklahoma City Spark
6 G, 6 GS, 3-for-13, 4 R, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 6 K, 3 BB, HBP, .231 AVG, .412 OBP, .923 SLG, 1.335 OPS
- Leads WPF in homers, second in RBIs and OPS
- Seventh in the league and fourth on her team in OBP
Chloe Malau'ulu – Oklahoma City Spark
5 G, 3 GS, 3-for-8, 5 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 2 K, BB, SB, .375 AVG, .444 OBP, .875 SLG, 1.319 OPS
- Ranks second among rookies in RBIs and sixth overall in the league
Annie Willis – Smash It Sports Vipers
3 APP, 1 GS, 4.2 IP, 6 H, 8 R, 4 ER, K, 6 BBFor more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Players Mentioned
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