The Newman softball team came out swinging on Wednesday afternoon in a frigid noconference home matchup with Lena-Winslow.

The Comets collected eight hits and scored nine runs in the first inning on the way to a 9-1 win.

Gianna Vance pitched a complete game two-hitter with nine strikeouts as Newman (3-4) snapped a three-game skid. She also had two hits and led the team with three RBIs.

“I feel like we just came out really strong,” Vance said. “We kind of let it go a little bit in the later innings, but we came out knowing that we can get out of this quick.”

Newman got back in the win column after losses to Morrison, Bureau Valley and Milledgeville. The Comets open conference play on Monday against Princeton.

Newman was also playing without three players for spring break. Putting together a big first inning like it did provided the team some extra confidence.

“It shows that we have a lot of talent,” Vance said. “And we’re going to do good things this season.”

Lucy Oetting, Claire Von Holten and Grace Woodward (two doubles) all had three hits in the win. Oetting and Woodward both knocked in two runs.

Vance is a sophomore and Woodward is a freshman.

“All of our young players really just stepped up,” Newman coach Charlie Woodward said. “It was all around a hit parade.

“We kept thinking to ourselves, next girl up, next girl up. And they really took that mentality out there.”

Woodward thought freshman catcher Bostyn Ruch was also key behind the plate.

“Bostyn really had some good frames today. She really helped out our pitcher to make sure those strikes were getting called today,” he said. “Always good when you get your two battery mates doing a good job.”

Newman sent 12 girls to the plate in the first inning. Seven different Comets scored runs in the game.

Scarlett Sager gave up just five hits the rest of the game for the Panthers (0-6).

“I think our girls started to get a little aggressive,” Woodward said. “We saw a lot of popups right afterward, so I think we were just trying to tee off on balls.

“They saw those hits in the first inning, they think they were going to get more, and I think they got ahead on pitches.”

Newman has shown it can have high scoring games. Vance’s one run was also the fewest the Comets have allowed so far this season.

“Gianna tonight really held down that circle for us,” Woodward said. “I have three girls missing from spring break and one injury, so a lot of those girls getting hits in the back were girls that don’t normally get it.

“Some of those girls are starting to feel their own now, and that’s what’s making us a complete team.”

Freshman Kate Von Holten (one RBI) and sophomore Violet Anderson both had hits and freshman Irelynne Wren drew two walks.

“These girls are starting to have fun,” Woodward said. “We’ve got Princeton on Monday. I think that’s going to be helpful for us.”

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Newman’s Bostyn Ruch tags out Lena-Winslow’s Mackenzie Fink at home Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Alex T. Paschal)