APEX — In a match between the No. 2 and No. 3 teams in the Tri-Eight Conference, the Middle Creek softball team proved to be the more experienced team against Apex Friday, as the Mustangs held off the Cougars 6-2.

The win completed a season sweep of Apex for Middle Creek (11-2, 8-2), though coach Robbie Wray knew his team would have its hands full at Apex.

“We knew coming over here we were going to face a tough team with Bonnie Hodge and Apex,” Wray said. “They’re always tough. It’s always a battle when we play them. I felt like the girls were prepared.”

Apex also came prepared and jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning, only to have Middle Creek take the lead for good in the top of the second, as it went up 2-1.

“I felt like it was a big turning point in the game in terms of momentum,” Wray said of the second inning. “They had scored to get ahead early, and then we battle back to tie it and then take a lead.”

Middle Creek pitcher Beth Anne Kleekamp dug herself out of a hole in the bottom of the second. She allowed Apex to load the bases with one out, but she pitched her way out of the inning without giving up a run.

Kleekamp picked up the win on the mound after recently working her way back into the rotation from a dislocated finger, and she said still is not 100 percent.

“It still didn’t feel great, but I just threw what I could and it worked out, and it meant a lot to get this win,” Kleekamp said.

Wray said he pitched Kleekamp several innings against Green Hope earlier in the week to get her adjusted and ready to pitch against the Cougars.

“She pitched three innings on Tuesday to get her prepared for tonight’s game,” Wray said. “I planned to pitch her in her senior year against Apex. It was a big game for us and a big game for her.”

Middle Creek’s Heather Robb gave the Mustangs a 3-1 lead on a one-run double to left in the third inning.

Apex’s Amanda Higgins cut the lead to one run in the fourth inning with an RBI single to send in Alston Kearns, who hit a triple as the previous batter.

But Middle Creek pulled away from there, as Kleekamp drove in a run in the fifth and the Mustangs tagged on two more runs in the seventh for the 6-2 win.

Despite the loss, Apex coach Bonnie Hodge said she is confident in her team’s ability to contend in the conference and beyond.

“We’re definitely a playoff team, and we’re still chasing after it,” Hodge said. “We just ran into a more experienced team today. We knew it was going to be a tough matchup.”

As for the Mustangs, they continue to build momentum heading into a rematch with top-seeded Fuquay on Friday. Fuquay edged Middle Creek 2-1 earlier this season at Fuquay.

“It’s huge to get this one over a good Apex team,” Wray said. “It’s huge. We know we want to battle with Fuquay, like we do every year. We just can’t seem to get over that hump, and that’s our goal of course, to battle them [for a conference championship].”