Michael Miller came up with a pair of key hits Friday night as the Humboldt Crabs opened the Western Tri-State Invitational Tournament with a 6-1 win over the Sierra Bighorns at the Arcata Ballpark.

Bighorns starting pitcher Stephen Batista frustrated the Crabs’ bats early on, holding them hitless through the opening four innings, but the Crabs made the most of the limited opportunities they got, with Miller instrumental in that.

With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Ryan Silver broke up Batista’s no-hitter with a hard-hit single to right field. Bobby Ethel was then walked to load the bases, before Miller hit a bases-clearing triple to right field to give the Crabs a 3-1 lead.

With Batista obviously tiring, John Parham then followed with a double to center field to score Miller for a 4-1 Crabs lead.

And that would prove to be all the Crabs pitchers would need, with starter Dakota Watts and reliever Austin Taylor combining to strike out 14 batters while scattering six hits.

Watts got the win, his fourth of the year, and after giving up a run in the top of the first he shut the visitors down for the following five innings before giving way to Taylor in the seventh.

For the night, Watts allowed five hits, while striking out nine.

Batista allowed just three hits in six innings work, while striking out 10 and walking four.

The Crabs, who improved to 26-6 with the win, added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh, with Miller again instrumental.

After Ethel singled to lead off the inning and stole his way to second, Miller doubled to center field to make it a 5-1 game.

Miller, who came into the game with just three extra-base hits on the season, scored moments later on a sacrifice fly from Parham.

The win was the Crabs’ ninth straight.

In other tournament action Friday, the Redding Colt 45’s defeated the Medford River Dogs 4-0.

The weekend tournament continues today, with the Bighorns playing the Colt 45’s at 5:15 p.m., followed by the Crabs and the River Dogs at 8:15 p.m.