#StateToTheShow: AFP Championship Awaits Malau’ulu, Kennedy
July 23, 2024 | Softball
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State softball was represented by just Brylie St. Clair and Chloe Malau'ulu on the professional softball circuit this week as two other Bulldogs had the week off.
Madisyn Kennedy was released from playing this week by the Florida Vibe to return to Starkville for her wedding. Aspen Wesley was also excused by the Texas Monarchs to serve as the maid of honor in the ceremony.
St. Clair and Malau'ulu, however, played plenty of games during the week. Malau'ulu and the Oklahoma City Spark played two series this week, including one against Kennedy's Vibe without her in attendance. The Spark won their series on the road against the New York Rise, securing the opener and the finale, but were swept at home by the Vibe.
Malau'ulu collected five hits in six games. She went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored in the opener against the Rise. The former Bulldog outfielder also reached base twice in the series finale and in the second game against the Vibe. She is now hitting .259 with a .717 OPS this season.
St. Clair's Monarchs were swept on the road against the Coastal Bend Tidal Wave, but her defense was a story in the series. On Thursday, St. Clair made a terrific running catch in the right-center gap with two runners on to end the scoring threat in a 5-3 ballgame. On Friday, she recorded three putouts – two while she was mic'd up in center field – and two outfield assists. St. Clair delivered and RBI single and tripled and scored in the second game of the series.
Malau'ulu and Kennedy now turn their focus to the postseason. The AFP Champion Cup will begin play on Thursday in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The double-elimination bracket will be contested over three days and name the first AFP Champion on Saturday, July 27. The Vibe open the tournament against the Rise, and the Spark will match up with the Chattanooga Steam.
Professional softball in the United States consists of three different leagues. Two play with traditional, location-based teams, the Association of Fastpitch Professionals (AFP) and Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF). Two Bulldogs are currently playing in each of these leagues. The third organization is Athletes Unlimited (AU), which does not have traditional teams. Instead, athletes compete as individuals earning fantasy sports style points. Teams are re-drafted by the leading players each week in Athletes Unlimited, where one Bulldog is active. AU begins play on Friday night.
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Madisyn Kennedy was released from playing this week by the Florida Vibe to return to Starkville for her wedding. Aspen Wesley was also excused by the Texas Monarchs to serve as the maid of honor in the ceremony.
St. Clair and Malau'ulu, however, played plenty of games during the week. Malau'ulu and the Oklahoma City Spark played two series this week, including one against Kennedy's Vibe without her in attendance. The Spark won their series on the road against the New York Rise, securing the opener and the finale, but were swept at home by the Vibe.
Malau'ulu collected five hits in six games. She went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored in the opener against the Rise. The former Bulldog outfielder also reached base twice in the series finale and in the second game against the Vibe. She is now hitting .259 with a .717 OPS this season.
St. Clair's Monarchs were swept on the road against the Coastal Bend Tidal Wave, but her defense was a story in the series. On Thursday, St. Clair made a terrific running catch in the right-center gap with two runners on to end the scoring threat in a 5-3 ballgame. On Friday, she recorded three putouts – two while she was mic'd up in center field – and two outfield assists. St. Clair delivered and RBI single and tripled and scored in the second game of the series.
Malau'ulu and Kennedy now turn their focus to the postseason. The AFP Champion Cup will begin play on Thursday in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The double-elimination bracket will be contested over three days and name the first AFP Champion on Saturday, July 27. The Vibe open the tournament against the Rise, and the Spark will match up with the Chattanooga Steam.
Professional softball in the United States consists of three different leagues. Two play with traditional, location-based teams, the Association of Fastpitch Professionals (AFP) and Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF). Two Bulldogs are currently playing in each of these leagues. The third organization is Athletes Unlimited (AU), which does not have traditional teams. Instead, athletes compete as individuals earning fantasy sports style points. Teams are re-drafted by the leading players each week in Athletes Unlimited, where one Bulldog is active. AU begins play on Friday night.
Bulldogs In The Show
Madisyn Kennedy – Florida Vibe (AFP)
| Opponent | GP-GS | AVG | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | HBP | SO | SF | SH | SB | OBP | SLG | PO | A | E | FLD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/20 – W, 5-2 vs. OKC Spark | DNP | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 7/20 – W, 7-5 vs. OKC Spark | DNP | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 7/21 – W, 1-0 vs. OKC Spark (8 inn.) | DNP | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Weekly Totals | 0-0 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Season Totals | 17-17 | .214 | 43 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .558 | 33 | 1 | 1 | .970 |
Chloe Malau'ulu – Oklahoma City Spark (AFP)
| Opponent | GP-GS | AVG | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | HBP | SO | SF | SH | SB | OBP | SLG | PO | A | E | FLD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/15 – W, 5-1 at New York Rise | 1-1 | 1.000 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 7/16 – L, 7-12 at New York Rise | 1-1 | .000 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 7/18 – W, 6-3 at New York Rise | 1-1 | .333 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 | .333 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 7/20 – L, 2-5 at Florida Vibe | 1-1 | .000 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- |
| 7/20 – L, 5-7 at Florida Vibe | 1-1 | .333 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 | .333 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 7/21 – L, 0-1 at Florida Vibe (8 inn.) | 1-1 | .250 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .250 | .250 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Weekly Totals | 6-6 | .278 | 18 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .350 | .278 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Season Totals | 21-19 | .259 | 54 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .310 | .407 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
Brylie St. Clair – Texas Monarchs (WPF)
| Opponent | GP-GS | AVG | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | HBP | SO | SF | SH | SB | OBP | SLG | PO | A | E | FLD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/18 – L, 4-6 at Coastal Bend Tidal Wave | 1-1 | .000 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .250 | .000 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 7/19 – L, 3-9 at Coastal Bend Tidal Wave | 1-1 | .500 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 | 1.000 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 7/20 – L, 4-8 at Coastal Bend Tidal Wave | 1-1 | .000 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- |
| 7/21 – L, 2-5 at Coastal Bend Tidal Wave | 1-1 | .000 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- |
| Weekly Totals | 4-4 | .154 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .214 | .308 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Season Totals | 19-17 | .250 | 52 | 11 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .375 | .423 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 |
Aspen Wesley – Texas Monarchs (WPF)
| Opponent | APP-GS | ERA | W-L | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | 2B | 3B | HR | AB | B/AVG | PO | A | E | FLD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/18 – L, 4-6 at Coastal Bend Tidal Wave | DNP | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 7/19 – L, 3-9 at Coastal Bend Tidal Wave | DNP | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 7/20 – L, 4-8 at Coastal Bend Tidal Wave | DNP | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 7/21 – L, 2-5 at Coastal Bend Tidal Wave | DNP | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Weekly Totals | 0-0 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Season Totals | 7-3 | 2.65 | 2-2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 31.2 | 30 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 121 | .248 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1.000 |
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballSOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Washington
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Texas Tech
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Raelin Chaffin ESPN2 Postgame Interview
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Washington
Friday, May 16