News Photo by Jonny Zawacki Hillman’s Jeff Klein (2) slides into home safely, beating a tag of Posen pitcher Joey Konieczny during the sixth inning of game one in a North Star League doubleheader in Posen on Monday.

POSEN — Despite a slow start to Monday’s North Star League doubleheader in Posen, the Hillman baseball team got rolling and when it did, the Tigers were able to score runs in bunches, picking up a sweep over their NSL rival, winning by scores of 8-4 and 11-3.

Hillman was held scoreless through the first three innings of game one and trailed 1-0 after Posen’s Jory Zdybel singled home Chase Dubie in the second inning to give the Vikings an early lead.

Unfortunately for Posen, the lead didn’t last long and it was the only lead of the night that it had as Hillman began putting balls in play, was aggressive on the basepaths and took advantage of Viking mistakes the rest of the night.

The Tigers took the lead in the top of the fourth inning when Fisher Linseman laced a one-out single down the left field line to score Nic Taratuta.

Hillman cashed in on some opportunities later in the inning when the Vikings struggled to make plays defensively as Linseman and Brady Firman each came across to score on errors as the Tigers took a 3-1 lead.

Starting pitcher Kory Henigan was sharp on the mound. Despite giving up the one earned run, Henigan pitched five innings and allowed just two hits, both of which came in the second inning. Henigan also struck out eight Vikings and picked up the win.

The Tigers added a run in the fifth and tacked on four runs in the sixth to take an 8-1 lead.

Taratuta came on in to relieve Henigan and finished the game, despite Posen scoring three runs in the final inning.

Offensively, Hillman collected 12 hits in the game and were led Linseman who went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a pair of runs scored. Nash Steinke, Isaac Morrison, Cam Koenig and Taratuta each had two hits in the win.

Koenig scored a pair of runs, Taratuta had a run and an RBI, Morrison added a run and Jaden Dove chipped in with a hit and a run scored.

Posen was led by Chase Dubie who collected two hits and scored two runs, Zdybel had a pair of hits and an RBI and Jared Kamyszek doubled and scored a run.

Hillman wasted no time putting runs on the board in the nightcap and jumped out to a big lead early, scoring seven runs across the first two innings.

Once again, the Tigers put the ball in play and Posen struggled to make the plays defensively and Hillman took advantage.

Nash Steinke led off the game with a single and scored. Morrison reached on an error, Koenig was hit by a pitch and Henigan reached on an error and all three also crossed home plate in the four run first inning.

The Vikings got a run back in the home half of the first, but Hillman responded with three more in the second to extend its lead as the big hit came off the bat of Henigan who ripped a two-out, two RBI double to the center field fence to score Nash Steinke and Koenig to put the Tigers on top 7-1.

Posen cut the lead to four with two runs in the home half of the second when Zdybel led off with a single and George Kroll walked and both runners later came around to score.

Hillman scored a run in the fourth when Morrison singled home Gage Steinke who also singled and stole second base. The Tigers tacked on two more in the fifth and a final run in the sixth and it was more than enough runs for Morrison who started and picked up the win on the mound in game two.

At the plate, Hillman was paced by Nash Steinke who was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Morrison had a hit, two RBI and a run scored. Koenig singled, walked and scored two runs. Henigan ad the two-run double and Linseman and Dove each chipped in with a hit apiece. Linseman scored a run and Dove crossed home plate twice in the victory.

The Vikings were led Zdybel, Dubie, Kamyszek and Jared Sharpe who each had a hit apiece as Posen was held to just four hits in game two. Zdybel, Kroll and Lucas Stone each scored a run and Sharpe collected an RBI.