SCHENECTADY, NY -- Senior outfielder Sean Wilkes (Troy, NY) produced seven RBIs, five hits and a grand slam home run to lead #10 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to a sweep over Union College at Central Park Diamond C Saturday. The Red Hawks won by scores of 10-3 (in the seven inning opener) and 15-5 to improve to 23-7 overall and 16-1 in the Liberty League. The Dutchmen fell to 5-15 overall and 2-10 in the league.

Wilkes had two doubles and three RBIs in the opener, and his grand slam came in the second inning of game two, his first homer of the year. Catcher Patrick Reardon (Troy, NY) and shortstop Tom Jebb (Ticonderoga, NY) added two hits each in the opener for the Red Hawks. Senior Andy Opperman (Clifton Park, NY) remained perfect with a 6-0 mark on the mound. Oppelman allowed three hits and three runs, one earned, while striking out five in five plus innings. 

Union jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first with a two-run double by Mike Ranalli. But RPI tied it after a Jebb single was followed by consecutive RBI doubles by Wilkes and Reardon. The Red Hawks sent 12 batters to the plate in an eight run fifth inning that featured a two run double by Wilkes. Union starter Matt Sheehan took the loss with five earned runs and six hits in four plus innings. Ranalli's homer was a leadoff shot in the fourth.

In the nightcap, Union once again took a 2-0 first inning lead, this coming on a two run double by Ranalli. But in the top of the second, RPI put five on the board and added six more in the second. Wilkes' grand slam in the second came with two outs, while the third featured a two run blast from Scott Robinson (Schenectady, NY), his sixth of the year, and a two run homer by Jim Devine (Castleton, NY), his third of the season. Noah Poissant III (Cohoes, NY) hit his first homer of the year, a solo shot in the eighth, and wound up with three hits and three RBIs. The guests had 16 hits in the second game.

RPI starter Andrew Mondo (Clifton Park, NY) now stands 7-1 on the year. He scattered five hits and struck out four while allowing just one earned run in seven innings. 

Union was led by Jarid Hotaling and Andy Brown, who each had two hits.

The two teams face each other again Sunday, this time at Rensselaer for a twinbill at 12 p.m.

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score