NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Lehman College softball squad dropped a pair of CUNYAC games on Thursday afternoon to host Hunter College, 8-0 and 17-9. These were the first conference games for both programs this season.

In the second game, senior Shiela San Andres (Woodhaven, N.Y./Construction Trades) blasted a three-run homerun in the top of the first, as the Lightning plated four runs in the inning. After the host Hawks scored a pair in the bottom of the first, San Andres reached base on a fielder's choice in the second, scoring sophomore Kyala Cruz (Brooklyn, N.Y./American Senior) with Lehman's sixth run of the game.

Hunter (3-4, 2-0) scored five runs in the third, to take a tenuous 7-6 lead. In the top of the fourth, Jona Kerluku (Ozone Park, N.Y./Construction Trades) connected on her second homerun of the season, a solo shot, knotting the score at 7-7. An inning later, a Meghan Bravo (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) sacrifice fly sent freshman second baseman Imalay Rodriguez (Dominican Republic/Metropolitan) home, as Lehman retook the lead, 8-7.

An inning later, Lehman (2-6, 0-2 CUNYAC) scored its final run of the game on a double steal. Cruz swiped second base, drawing a throw. In the process, Martinez broke for home, beating the throw back to the plate.

On the night, Cruz had three hits, and scored twice. Kerluku had a pair of hits, with one RBI and three runs scored, while San Andres had one hit, the three-run homerun, walked twice, and had four RBI.

The Lightning return to action on Friday, March 28, hosting St. Joseph's of Brooklyn in a non-conference doubleheader. Game One starts at 4:00 p.m., on the South Field.