Photos by Matt Filar/Humboldt Crabs Baseball – Andrew Overland in action for the Crabs against the Prune Packers on Thursday night.

Andrew Overland threw five scoreless innings on Thursday night as the Humboldt Crabs got a crucial Pacific Empire League win against the Healdsburg Prune Packers at the Arcata Ball Park.

The 6-0 win was the Crabs’ first in six games against the high-flying league leaders this summer and it keeps them well in contention for a place in the inaugural PEL Championship Series.

The victory lifts the Crabs to 10-11 in the PEL and just half a game behind the Lincoln Potters in second place, with five league games remaining.

Healdsburg remains atop the league standings and is 8.5 games clear of the chasing pack with a record of 20-3.

The loss ended a 10-game winning streak for the club.

Overland got the start and threw five strong innings, allowing six hits and one walk and striking out four.

He got some offensive support early in the game as the Crabs scored three runs in the bottom of the first to quickly take control.

Antonio Avila helped set the tone at the plate for the home team and was 2-for-5 with a double and three runs, while Billy Ham was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run.

Keoni Coloma added a double.

The Crabs, who are now 24-13 overall, will host the Medford Rogues in another crucial three-game PEL series at the Arcata ball Park this weekend, with game one set for Friday night at 7 p.m.

The loss was just the fourth on the summer for the Prune Packers, who dropped to 31-4 overall.

Photo by Matt Filar/Humboldt Crabs Baseball – Keenan Morris, left, in action for the Crabs on Thursday night.