Head coach Joel Holst and the Wartburg College baseball team have had their struggles early on this season. Inclement weather, facility issues, a tough traveling schedule, and a laundry list of injuries are just a few things the Knights have had to deal with on their way to a 6-9 record through the first two weeks of the season.

The Knights traveled to St. Louis last weekend to compete at the Webster University Tournament. Saturday’s match up against Concordia University (Ill.) was cancelled due to weather and field conditions.

Wartburg opened play Sunday against host institution Webster University. A three-run top of the first vaulted the Knights out to an early lead. Webster quickly surpassed that as they scored five runs in the bottom of the first. They equaled that in the second inning, then never looked back as they won an offensive slugfest 15-9.

Also on Sunday, the Knights took on Concordia University (Ill.) at the Webster tournament. The Knights dropped their second of the day by a score of 9-1.

The Knights opened up their 2008 campaign with a trip to the Metrodome in Minneapolis to take on St. Olaf (Minn.) and Bethel (Minn.).

Wartburg split with St. Olaf, dropping the first game 4-3, but bounced back to take game two of the double header 8-4.

Holst has been impressed with his squad’s ability to score runs early on in the season.

“We have done a pretty good job offensively in giving run support against opposing pitchers,” Holst said.

Baseball tour provides challenges, successes
Wartburg continued their baseball tour as they traveled to Orlando for a Winter Break trip that included nine games for the varsity squad.

The Knights opened competition in Florida with a 6-4 loss to Keystone (Pa.). Holst’s squad bounced back, winning back-to-back doubleheaders the next two days, taking 11-1 and 7-1 victories from Wisconsin Lutheran, followed by 12-1 and 13-6 wins against Farmingdale State (N.Y.).

Game two against Farmingdale State ended with a 13-6 final in the Knights’ favor.

The Knights could not avenge their earlier loss to Keystone (Pa.) as they fell 7-2 to the Giants on March 5.

March 6 saw the Knights split a doubleheader against Aurora (Ill.). Wartburg dropped game one 7-6 but took game two 4-2.

Wartburg closed their Florida trip with a 7-6 loss to King’s College (Pa.).

The Knights have had to deal with their fair share of injuries this early in the season, especially in the pitching ranks.

“From a pitching standpoint, we maybe kind of rushed guys,” Holst said. “It has been one injury after another that we’ve been dealing with.”

Wartburg will open up Iowa Conference action Friday at Hertel Field in Waverly when Cornell travels to town for a three game series against the Knights. Wartburg is trying to capture its 12th consecutive IIAC title.