CHICO-The Chico Outlaws have a playoff birth in their sights. With an 8-4 victory over Maui Friday night at Nettleton Stadium, they find themselves only 3.5 games out of second place in the Northern division and only six games out of first.

The “Knuckle Princess” Eri Yoshida (0-0) made her return to the Outlaws and was used sparingly, lasting two innings before being relieved by recently acquired Kyle Wilson. In her two innings of play, Yoshida allowed two earned runs and two hits in 58 pitches. A nearly sold out crowd was on hand to see the first female professional baseball player to ever play in two different countries. She is also the first professional female baseball player to record a hit and an RBI.

Kyle Wilson (2-0) was brilliant in relief allowing only one hit in five innings, with no earned runs while fanning three on his way to earning his second win.

Maui took advantage of an early Brian Mcfall error during the top of the first, scoring Gered Mochizuki from second base to give them a 1-0 lead.

The Outlaws were able to respond in the bottom half of the first on a Chris Lubanski putout, scoring Danny Gonzalez from third. Chico was able to keep mounting on runs with a Jake Rife double to left center, scoring Adam Buschini from second. With Jake Rife on second and Mcfall on third, Pat Terry ripped a two run single to give the Outlaws a 4-1 advantage.

Maui mounted a comeback in the top of the third scoring two runs when Matt Kavanaugh scored on a Pat Rose putout and Pascual Del Real crossed the plate with a Stephen Pearson walk with the bases loaded.

Yoshida made her presence felt in the bottom half of the second, when she walked on four straight pitches, eventually scoring on an Adam Buschini hard single past the third baseman; giving the Outlaws a 5-2 advantage.

Mathew Broughton (2-4) pitched 3.2 innings, allowing seven earned on seven hits on his way to his fourth loss of the season.

The Outlaws were able to continue their hot hitting, adding insurance runs in the third, fourth and eighth innings on their way to their 26^th win on the season, including taking an impressive nine of their last eleven ball games.

-Joey Resnikoff