#StateToTheShow: Women’s Pro Fastpitch Week 2
June 30, 2023 | Softball
STARKVILLE – Annie Willis had the upper hand in her second meeting with her former Mississippi State teammates at the professional level. This time the Smash It Sports Vipers pitcher tossed 4.0 scoreless innings against Fa Leilua and Chloe Malau'ulu of the Oklahoma City Spark.
Willis entered in relief behind a 3-1 deficit after Malau'ulu had delivered an RBI single to extend OKC's lead. After hitting Leilua – who had homered off her in their previous meeting – with a pitch, she recorded two strikeouts and ground out to get out of a bases-loaded jam. Willis went on to allow three hits in three additional innings while striking out three hitters while her team cut the lead to a 3-2 final score.
The Spark held on to win the game and the series, however, and they now sit second in the WPF standings with an 8-2 record. Oklahoma City saw its road game against the USSSA Pride postponed by weather before splitting the remaining two games of the series with a 6-3 victory and 3-1 loss. The Spark won the first game against the Vipers, 3-0, but lost the middle game, 4-1.
Malau'ulu began her week with a two-hit game and a stolen base against the Pride. She also picked up a hit in the loss to the Pride and the previously-mentioned RBI single against the Vipers. Leilua was put on base four times by walks and hit-by-pitches this week.
The Spark return home to host the league-leading Texas Smoke for the first meeting between this year's two expansion teams. The three-game set will be played in USA Hall of Fame Stadium in OKC on July 1-3. Meanwhile, the Vipers remain at home to host the USSSA Pride.
The league will pause following those series until July 10. Oklahoma City will travel to London, England, during the break to play a pair of exhibition games with Team Great Britain before the WBSC Women's World Cup Group Stage begins.
Season: 11 G, 10 GS, 3-for-23, 4 R, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 11 K, 5 BB, 3 HBP, .130 AVG, .355 OBP, .522 SLG, .877 OPS
Season: 10 G, 7 GS, 7-for-21, 5 R, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 5 K, BB, 2 SB, .333 AVG, .364 OBP, .524 SLG, .887 OPS
Season: 5 APP, 2 GS, 3.93 ERA, 10.2 IP, 13 H, 11 R, 6 ER, 9 K, 7 BB
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Willis entered in relief behind a 3-1 deficit after Malau'ulu had delivered an RBI single to extend OKC's lead. After hitting Leilua – who had homered off her in their previous meeting – with a pitch, she recorded two strikeouts and ground out to get out of a bases-loaded jam. Willis went on to allow three hits in three additional innings while striking out three hitters while her team cut the lead to a 3-2 final score.
The Spark held on to win the game and the series, however, and they now sit second in the WPF standings with an 8-2 record. Oklahoma City saw its road game against the USSSA Pride postponed by weather before splitting the remaining two games of the series with a 6-3 victory and 3-1 loss. The Spark won the first game against the Vipers, 3-0, but lost the middle game, 4-1.
Malau'ulu began her week with a two-hit game and a stolen base against the Pride. She also picked up a hit in the loss to the Pride and the previously-mentioned RBI single against the Vipers. Leilua was put on base four times by walks and hit-by-pitches this week.
The Spark return home to host the league-leading Texas Smoke for the first meeting between this year's two expansion teams. The three-game set will be played in USA Hall of Fame Stadium in OKC on July 1-3. Meanwhile, the Vipers remain at home to host the USSSA Pride.
The league will pause following those series until July 10. Oklahoma City will travel to London, England, during the break to play a pair of exhibition games with Team Great Britain before the WBSC Women's World Cup Group Stage begins.
Bulldog Alumni in WPF
Fa Leilua – Oklahoma City Spark
This Week: 5 G, 4 GS, 0-for-10, 5 K, 2 BB, 2 HBPSeason: 11 G, 10 GS, 3-for-23, 4 R, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 11 K, 5 BB, 3 HBP, .130 AVG, .355 OBP, .522 SLG, .877 OPS
- Tied for the league lead in home runs
- Seventh in the league in OPS and tied for fourth in walks
Chloe Malau'ulu – Oklahoma City Spark
This Week: 5 G, 4 GS, 3-for-13, RBI, 3 K, SBSeason: 10 G, 7 GS, 7-for-21, 5 R, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 5 K, BB, 2 SB, .333 AVG, .364 OBP, .524 SLG, .887 OPS
- One of 10 players league-wide with multiple stolen bases
Annie Willis – Smash It Sports Vipers
This Week: 2 APP, 1 GS, 2.33 ERA, 6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 8 K, BBSeason: 5 APP, 2 GS, 3.93 ERA, 10.2 IP, 13 H, 11 R, 6 ER, 9 K, 7 BB
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Players Mentioned
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