WAVERLY - Aaron Saeugling was strictly a pitcher his first two seasons at Wartburg College.

In fact, the Dubuque Wahlert alum accumulated just two at-bats during his first two years in the Knights' baseball program.

"I missed hitting," Saeugling said. "I couldn't wait to get back to Dubuque and play summer ball so I could hit."

While the Wartburg senior continues to flourish on the mound, he's also now an integral part of the team's offense.

Saeugling, who hit .298 last year with 12 doubles and 25 RBIs, is batting a team-best .420 through the squad's first 15 games this spring. He has a team-high 10 extra-base hits, including seven doubles.

"Offensively, he's swinging as consistent as anyone we've got in our program," head coach Joel Holst said. "He's always been a great athlete, but early on in his career we needed him more as a pitcher."

The preseason all-American has had to make an impact at the plate since he's been limited on the mound.

After compiling an 8-0 mark, a 1.17 ERA and throwing four complete games last spring, Saeugling has pitched just nine innings so far because of a strain in his right rotator cuff.

Saeugling had an MRI last week and results were negative, but he was shut down for nearly two weeks before he began throwing again this week.

"As long as the pain doesn't come back, I should be good to go," Saeugling said.

The shoulder injury is just one of several injuries Wartburg, which has won 11 straight Iowa Conference championships, has dealt with this spring.

The Knights are an uncharacteristic 6-9 heading into Friday's home opener against Cornell.

"We've been real inconsistent," Holst said, "and we've been bit by the injury bug more than any year I've been here. It's one of things that we've probably looked at some kids that wouldn't have because of the injuries.

"That usually is a positive in the long run, but it has resulted in some inconsistent play."

Wartburg, coming off a 28-13 season and 18-5 finish in the IIAC, returns 12 position players from last year, including third baseman Mike Johnson (batting .375) and outfielder Kyle Jones (.349 average). Kirkwood transfer Jerrold Martijn, just 5-foot-6, has provided power in the lineup with three homers.

"We have great team chemistry, maybe the best since I've been up here," Saeugling said. "Our biggest problem has been inconsistency on the mound. We're hitting the ball pretty well, but we're just giving up too many runs."

The Knights are hitting .304, but have a team ERA of 6.42.

"We're trying to work through this and get things figured out," Holst said. "We're not used to not having success, so it's something you try and deal with. We're just trying to make sure we improve.

"More than anything, we're struggling."

Saeugling is confident once the team is healthy and the weather warms up, the Knights will return to form. Wartburg was picked to finish second in the conference behind Luther by the league's coaches.

"We have tremendous talent on this team," Saeugling said. "It's just a matter of being consistent and bringing everyone together.

"We have yet to play our best ball. We've had great games and really bad games. There hasn't been much in between."

Contact Matt Coss at (319) 291-1468 or matt.coss@wcfcourier.com

Wartburg's remaining schedule

Friday - Cornell, 6 p.m.

Saturday - Cornell (DH), 1 p.m.

March 28 - at Luther, 3 p.m.

March 29 - at Luther (DH), 1 p.m.

April 4 - Loras, 6 p.m.

April 5 - Loras (DH), 1 p.m.

April 11 - at Central, 3 p.m.

April 12 - at Central (DH), 1 p.m.

April 18 - Buena Vista, 6 p.m.

April 19 - Buena Vista (DH), 1 p.m.

April 22 - at Dubuque (DH), 1 p.m.

April 25 - at Simpson, 6 p.m.

April 26 - at Simpson (DH), 1 p.m.

April 30 - Dubuque, 6 p.m.

May 2 - Coe, 6 p.m.

May 3 - Coe (DH), 1 p.m.

May 8-10 - at IIAC Tournament (Cedar Rapids)

May 15-17 - NCAA regional, TBA

May 23-27 - NCAA College World Series (Appleton, Wis.)

Getting Inside

2007 record: 28-13, 18-5 IIAC (tied for first)

Starters returning/lost: 12/4

Pitchers returning/lost: 6/2

Players to watch:

n Aaron Saeugling, sr., RHP/2B: The Dubuque Wahlert alum is a preseason All-American through D3Baseball.com after registering an 8-0 record on the mound with a 1.17 ERA in 77 innings last year. He is hitting a team-best .420 through 14 games.

n Jerrold Martijn, jr., OF/LHP: The 5-foot-6 and 160-pounder, who transferred from Kirkwood, has tremendous power at the plate. He's hitting .333 so far with three homers and eight RBIs. He also gives the Knights a solid left-handed arm.

n Mike Johnson, jr., 3B: He is the Knights' top returning offensive player from last year after hitting .325 with 18 doubles and 34 RBIs. Johnson is hitting .375 this spring in 13 games.

Quoting coach Joel Holst:

"With all the pitching returning and one of our stronger recruiting classes for pitching, the depth on the mound will be a strength. We will be veteran at all positions with more athleticism than last year's team."