CARY — The Mustang runs came early and often, as the Middle Creek softball team needed just five innings to cruise by Panther Creek 13-0 on Thursday.

Middle Creek had been averaging just 2.8 runs per game, so the offensive outburst, coupled with pitcher Darby Pierce's two-hitter, left little more to be desired.

"We executed probably as well as we have all year, offensively and defensively," MC coach Robbie Wray said.

As a junior, Pierce has started every game for the Mustangs thus far. She racked up 10 strikeouts against the Catamounts.

"I tried to work in my change-up a little bit more today," Pierce said. "My screwball's been working really good and I just mixed in and out, up and down, and just tried to keep the batters off-balance."

Three Mustang batters recorded three hits on the day, including shortstop and UNC-Greensboro signee Heather Robb, who went 3-for-4 with three RBI.

"It really boosts our confidence up," freshman center fielder Allison Geiner, who had three hits, said. "We're able to hit the ball more and field the ball better and not make as many errors."

It was a 29-run swing from the Catamounts' previous game, a 16-0 win over Cary. As the back-to-back results of those finals indicate, it's been hard for Panther Creek to establish consistency this year, especially with as many as four starters out of action at the same time.

But even while losing the likes of Meaghan Roach, Katie Moore, Anne Kloefkorn and Alex Drebitko for extended periods of time, coach Brian Johnson said he won't use it as an excuse.

"You can't blame any loss, anything, on losing a starter. Every team has it so I'm not going to blame it on any starter not being here. You've just got to make adjustments," Johnson said.

With Apex losing its first game of the season on April 15 to Fuquay-Varina, the doors opened back up for the reigning conference champions to get back into the conference race.

"We've got to do our job, and that's take care of Fuquay and Apex next time we see them and every other team in the conference as well," Wray said. "We can't take a day off and we need a little help, but if we take care of business ourselves hopefully those other things will take care of themselves."

If there's one thing last year's run to the state semifinals has done, it's given the team some swagger during this season.

The attitude of the players is loud and clear. They have been chomping at the bit for the chance to play Fuquay and Apex, the only two Tri-Eight teams to defeat the Mustangs, at home.

"We're just ready to play them at home, not too worried about it," Robb said. We should've beat them both times on the road and they're coming to our house now. We're completely confident."

The Lady Mustangs will get their chance for revenge on Friday when Apex comes into town.

"I'm just ready to play them again," Pierce said. "I just think they got lucky the first time so I'm ready to face them again and I'm going to go after them hard. It'll take a team effort, but I think we can do it."