Softball Game Preview: Sarasota Sailors vs. Venice Indians

The Sarasota Sailors will head out on the road to face off against the Venice Indians at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Sarasota 2.9, Venice 2.7) so any runs scored will be well earned.

Sarasota heads in on the heels of a playoff game on Tuesday. They fell 7-4 to Venice. The Sailors' defeat signaled the end of their three-game winning streak.

For Venice's part, Jayde Neptune spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and one unearned) runs on nine hits. Neptune has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks any time she's pitched this season.

At the plate, the team relied heavily on Kaylin Smith, who got on base in all four of her plate appearances with two RBI, one run, and one double. Another player making a difference was Riley Sullivan, who went 1-for-3 with one run and one RBI.

The win (which was Venice's sixth in a row) raised their record to 18-5. Those victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.0 runs on average over those games. As for Sarasota, their loss dropped their record down to 18-7.

Thursday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Sarasota has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .462. However, it's not like Venice struggles in that department as they've averaged .432. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.