File photo by Matt Filar/Humboldt Crabs Baseball

The Humboldt Crabs kept their Pacific Empire League championship hopes alive with a three-game sweep over the Medford Rogues over the weekend.

The Crabs won 7-6 on Friday night, 7-5 on Saturday and 8-4 on Sunday afternoon.

With the three wins, the local collegiate summer club moved into a tie with the Lincoln Potters for second place in the league standings, with two games remaining.

The Crabs are 13-11 in league play and will play a two-game midweek series against the West Coast Kings at the Arcata Ball Park on Tuesday and Wednesday night to close out league play, while the Potters are 12-10 and have five league games remaining, including two against PEL leaders Healdsburg (21-4) and three against the Solano Mudcats (9-14).

The Crabs had to rally in Saturday night’s win, overcoming a three-run deficit and scoring seven runs in their final three innings.

Troy Harding led a 10-hit team performance at the plate and finished 3-for-5 with a double.

Cameron Saso pitched five solid innings for the Crabs for a no decision, with Max Hippenstell getting the win on the mound in relief.

Saso allowed two runs on six hits and three walks and struck out two.

Hippenstell gave up three hits and a walk in 1.1 innings and struck out two.

In Sunday’s game, former Eureka Logger and College of the Redwoods standout Parker Rodgers returned from a long injury layoff with a bang and hit a double in his first at-bat since opening weekend.

Rodgers finished 1-for-2.

Catcher Ethan Rivera led a 12-hit team performance and finished 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.

Nolan Long got the win on the mound.

Long threw six scoreless innings, allowing four hits and no walks and striking out eight.