File photo – Merek Sears

The Humboldt Crabs are finding their groove as they get set for the second half of the campaign.

Halfway through the 2023 season, the local collegiate summer club is 19-5 after stretching its winning streak to eight straight with a pair of wins over the Solano Mudcats at the Arcata Ball Park this week.

The Crabs won a tight opening game 2-1 on the Fourth and followed that with an 8-1 win on Wednesday night.

And they’re winning with strong pitching and plenty of offense.

The team gave up just two runs on 10 hits over the two games, while scoring their 10 runs on 22 hits.

“We pitched really well,” manager Robin Guiver said of the midweek series. “We’re continuing to get really good pitching.”

And after struggling a little at the plate early in the summer the Crabs are matching that quality pitching with plenty of offense, with several players contributing this week.

Seven different players hit successfully in Tuesday’s win and eight of nine players in the lineup got a hit in game two.

“Our lineup’s got a lot of depth to it,” Guiver said. “We’re doing a good job hitting one through nine, and the guys that were slumping early on are hitting now.

“I like where we’re at.”

Colby Lunsford and Billy Ham each had two hits, including a double, in Tuesdays’ win, while Gabe Tanner got the win on the hill, allowing just one unearned run on three hits in seven innings and striking out seven.

Benjy Tucker and Brady Chavez each threw a scoreless inning in relief to close out the win.

File photo – Crabs manager Robin Guiver likes where his team is at halfway through the season.

Lunsford and Ham added a pair of hits on Wednesday, as did Kawana Soares, Jeff Bauser and Mason Hirata.

Lunsford and Bauser each had a double, as the Crabs overcame an early one-run deficit and gradually pulled away.

Merek Sears pitched six innings for the win on the mound, allowing one run on six hits and a walk and striking out six.

Garrison Finck threw two hitless innings in relief, giving up just one walk.

The Crabs will now turn their attention to the Bercovich Honors, who travel to the Arcata Ball Park for a three-game series this weekend.

Game one is set for Friday night at 7 p.m.