BRONXVILLE, N.Y. – After several close games, the Lehman College softball team broke through in a major way on Saturday, sweeping host Sarah Lawrence College, 13-2, and 18-0. The non-conference wins are the first of the season for the Lightning, who are now 2-13. SLC is 0-7.

In the first game, senior pitcher Janet Ortiz (Shady Hills, Fla./River Ridge) hurled a complete game, allowing only two first inning runs. She scattered three hits, while striking out three.

In the top of the first, Lehman junior second baseman Cynthia Vasquez (Queens, N.Y./CTEA) scored an unearned run on an Ashley Williams (Bronx, N.Y./Bronx Leadership Academy) single, before Ortiz scored on a passed ball. But the Gryphons responded with a pair of first inning runs of their own, and we had a ball game.

In the Lehman third, an infield single for freshman centerfielder Xiomara Pacheco (New York, N.Y./St. John Baptiste) scored freshman third baseman Jona Kerluku (Ozone Park, N.Y./Construction Trades) to bring the lead back to the Blue and Gold. Another run came across in the fifth inning, as Chariny Graciano (Jackson Heights, N.Y./Information Technology) came across the plate.

Lehman put the game away with four runs in the sixth inning, and five more in the seventh.

In game two, Ortiz was again the star, as she threw a no-hitter, striking out two batters, while walking two. Additionally, at the plate, two of her four hits were homeruns, as she drove in six runs.  In all, every Lehman player had at least one hit and one RBI, as the Lightning pounded out 21 hits to score their 18 runs. Ashley Williams hit her first homerun of the season, a blast on the fourth inning.

The Lightning look to continue their winning streak on Tuesday, April 9, hosting Baruch College in a CUNY Athletic Conference double header.