Softball Game Preview: Sarasota Sailors vs. Inspiration Academy Lions

The Sarasota Sailors will face off against the Inspiration Academy Lions at 7:00 p.m. on Monday. Neither of those teams managed to put together many runs in their previous contests, so the offenses might be a little more motivated than usual.

Sarasota will face Inspiration Academy after dropping another heartbreaker against Palmetto on Thursday, which marked the second time in a row the team's come within 2.1 of beating them. Sarasota fell just short of Palmetto by a score of 3-1. The loss was the Sailors' first of the season.

Gemma Mulhollen

Batters Struck Out (Career)

02/27/25 @ Palmetto	7
04/17/24 vs Braden River	6
04/25/24 vs Inspiration Academy	4
04/30/24 vs Venice	3
04/23/24 vs Venice	3

Gemma Mulhollen was a force to be reckoned with on the mound despite the final result: she struck out seven batters over six innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off six hits. The dominant performance gave her a new career-high in strikeouts.

On the hitting side, Sommer Speers was cooking despite her team's loss, going 2-for-3 with one triple and one run.

Meanwhile, Inspiration Academy unfortunately witnessed the end of their 14-game winning streak dating back to last season on Thursday. They came up short against Calvary Christian, falling 7-1. The contest marked the Lions' lowest-scoring match so far this season.

Having lost for the first time this season, Sarasota fell to 2-1. As for Inspiration Academy, their defeat was their first of the season and makes their record 4-1.

The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Monday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Sarasota has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.7 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Inspiration Academy struggles in that department as they've been averaging 9 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.

Sarasota couldn't quite finish off Inspiration Academy in their previous meeting back in April of 2024 and fell 4-2. Can Sarasota avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.