While managing the sweep, Rocky had to take the victories in opposite fashions at the Rock Island High School Field. Rocky won the opener 6-5 in nine innings and then pounded the demoralized Panthers 10-0 in the six-inning nightcap.

In Saturday's opener, the Panthers were looking as if they were going to continue tormenting the Rocks, leading 3-1 going into the bottom of the seventh. But a two-run Zac Simpson double tied the game sending it into extra frames.

UT took a 5-3 lead in the ninth on Richie Moeller's RBI single that led to a Rocky throwing error and the two runs. But the Panthers let it slip away again. A two-run double by Rocky's Derek Goetzl scored Zach Norris and Simpson who led off with back-to-back singles. John Wagle's sacrifice fly gave Rocky the victory, scoring Goetzl.

``Everything fell into place,'' said Rock Island coach Andy Campbell. ``We just never quit. They were tough and that's the kind of toughness we need throughout the year.''

UT fought in the opener behind pitcher Mark Ramos. The junior, who struck out five in 8.1 innings of work, helped himself at the plate going 3-for-5, scoring twice, and knocking in a run. However, timely hitting by the Rocks washed away a solid effort.

``He competes and doesn't back down and he came at us for all nine innings and was very tough,'' Campbell said of Ramos. ``Our guys stuck with it and got to him.''

Along with Ramos, Adam Kinney and Garth Montgomery had three hits apiece for UT in the opener.

``It was clutch in the bottom of the ninth,'' Goetzl said. ``You just have to follow up and do your job. I said `Well, everybody's done their job so far, I have to do mine to keep it going.' You just can't let the team down.''

Game two lacked a comparable amount of excitement, but was not lacking in a top-notch performance by winning pitcher Bryant Loy. The lefthander kept the ball down and relied on a perfect Rock Island defense to check the Panthers on four hits. He walked none and struck out five.

``I just took it nice and easy -- just letting it go and trying to let my defense work for me,'' said Loy. ``They played tremendously for me today.''

Only two of Loy's pitches in six innings of work reached the outfield on the fly. He faced 22 batters in the game.

``Bryant was simple today,'' said Campbell. ``He threw strikes, he kept the ball down, and he mixed in his off-speed pitches. We don't try to make it any harder than that.''

Both Loy and UT's Nick Lampe kept things moving swiftly on the mound. Lampe mystified several Rock Island batters with his frequently used curveball. He struck out nine batters, including three in the fifth inning when he delivered eight consecutive curves.

Loy made his presence felt at the plate, too, knocking in the first two runs with two outs in the third. Wagle followed up with a single to score another. Garrett George also had an RBI single in a five-run rally to close out the third.