#StateToTheShow: Malau'ulu, Spark Win AFP Championship
July 29, 2024 | Softball
STARKVILLE – Former Mississippi State outfielder Chloe Malau'ulu won her first professional championship on Saturday as the Oklahoma City Spark won the Association of Fastpitch Professionals Champion Cup.
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Malau'ulu went head-to-head with former MSU teammate Madisyn (Kennedy) Farmer and the Florida Vibe in the championship game. Due to the double-elimination bracket format, the Vibe needed to win twice on Saturday to take the crown away from the Spark but were unable to force the if-necessary game as the Spark won, 11-4.
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Farmer was a key contributor in the Vibe's run through the loser's bracket to reach the final. After the losing their opening game, 7-0, against the New York Rise, Florida responded with a walk-off, 1-0 win to eliminate the Chattanooga Steam. That game also saw Farmer receive the throw at first for the final out of a triple play that was the No. 8 play on SportsCenter's Top 10 the following morning.
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On Saturday, Malau'ulu went 1-for-3 in the Spark's semifinal win against the Rise to push them into the championship. The Rise then met with Farmer's Vibe, who rallied back to claim a 7-6 win. Farmer hit a two-run homer to break open a tie ballgame with two outs in the third inning. The Vibe never trailed again.
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Malau'ulu came on as a pinch hitter in the championship game, lining out before remaining in the game in left field. She later caught a line drive from Farmer, who went 0-for-3 in her season finale.
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In WPF action, Brylie St. Clair and Aspen Wesley's Texas Monarchs were swept at home by the Texas Smoke. Wesley started game one and allowed just one earned run in 5.0 innings off a two-run homer in the first inning. She struck out three. Wesley is currently pitching to a 2.48 ERA across 36.2 innings with 17 strikeouts and seven walks.
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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 play began on July 26, and a recap of that action is available here.
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For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
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Malau'ulu went head-to-head with former MSU teammate Madisyn (Kennedy) Farmer and the Florida Vibe in the championship game. Due to the double-elimination bracket format, the Vibe needed to win twice on Saturday to take the crown away from the Spark but were unable to force the if-necessary game as the Spark won, 11-4.
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Farmer was a key contributor in the Vibe's run through the loser's bracket to reach the final. After the losing their opening game, 7-0, against the New York Rise, Florida responded with a walk-off, 1-0 win to eliminate the Chattanooga Steam. That game also saw Farmer receive the throw at first for the final out of a triple play that was the No. 8 play on SportsCenter's Top 10 the following morning.
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On Saturday, Malau'ulu went 1-for-3 in the Spark's semifinal win against the Rise to push them into the championship. The Rise then met with Farmer's Vibe, who rallied back to claim a 7-6 win. Farmer hit a two-run homer to break open a tie ballgame with two outs in the third inning. The Vibe never trailed again.
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Malau'ulu came on as a pinch hitter in the championship game, lining out before remaining in the game in left field. She later caught a line drive from Farmer, who went 0-for-3 in her season finale.
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In WPF action, Brylie St. Clair and Aspen Wesley's Texas Monarchs were swept at home by the Texas Smoke. Wesley started game one and allowed just one earned run in 5.0 innings off a two-run homer in the first inning. She struck out three. Wesley is currently pitching to a 2.48 ERA across 36.2 innings with 17 strikeouts and seven walks.
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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 play began on July 26, and a recap of that action is available here.
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Bulldogs In The Show
Madisyn (Kennedy) Farmer – Florida Vibe (AFP)
| Â Opponent | GP-GS | AVG | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | HBP | SO | SF | SH | SB | OBP | SLG | PO | A | E | FLD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|  7/25 – L, 0-7 vs. New York Rise | 1-1 | .000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
|  7/26 – W, 1-0 at Chattanooga Steam | 1-0 | .000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- |
|  7/27 – W, 7-6 vs. New York Rise | 1-1 | .667 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .667 | 1.667 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
|  7/27 – L, 4-11 vs. OKC Spark | 1-1 | .000 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .250 | .000 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Â Weekly Totals | 4-3 | .250 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .625 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Â Season Totals | 21-20 | .235 | 51 | 13 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .569 | 50 | 1 | 1 | .981 |
Chloe Malau'ulu – Oklahoma City Spark (AFP)
| Â Opponent | GP-GS | AVG | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | HBP | SO | SF | SH | SB | OBP | SLG | PO | A | E | FLD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|  7/25 – W, 13-4 at Chattanooga Steam (5 inn.) | 1-0 | .000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- |
|  7/26 – W, 5-2 vs. New York Rise | 1-1 | .500 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .333 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
|  7/27 – W, 11-4 vs. Florida Vibe | 1-0 | .000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Â Weekly Totals | 3-1 | .200 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .200 | .200 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Â Season Totals | 24-20 | .254 | 59 | 8 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .302 | .390 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
Brylie St. Clair – Texas Monarchs (WPF)
| Â Opponent | GP-GS | AVG | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | HBP | SO | SF | SH | SB | OBP | SLG | PO | A | E | FLD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|  7/25 – L, 3-6 vs. Texas Smoke | 1-1 | .000 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 4 | 0 | 1 | .800 |
|  7/26 – L, 0-9 vs. Texas Smoke (5 inn.) | 1-1 | .000 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
|  7/27 – L, 1-20 vs. Texas Smoke (5 inn.) | DNP | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Â Weekly Totals | 2-2 | .000 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 5 | 0 | 1 | .833 |
| Â Season Totals | 21-19 | .224 | 58 | 11 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .343 | .379 | 35 | 2 | 1 | .974 |
Aspen Wesley – Texas Monarchs (WPF)
| Â 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|  7/25 – L, 3-6 vs. Texas Smoke | 1-1 | 1.40 | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 19 | .158 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
|  7/26 – L, 0-9 vs. Texas Smoke (5 inn.) | DNP | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
|  7/27 – L, 1-20 vs. Texas Smoke (5 inn.) | DNP | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Â Weekly Totals | 1-1 | 1.40 | 0-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 19 | .158 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| Â Season Totals | 8-4 | 2.48 | 2-3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36.2 | 33 | 14 | 13 | 7 | 17 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 140 | .236 | 0 | 4 | 1 | .800 |
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For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
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Players Mentioned
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