Friday, Feb. 20 | Marian University
Grand Park | Indianapolis, Indiana | 5 p.m. (ET)

Saturday, Feb. 21 | Heidelberg University
Grand Park | Indianapolis, Indiana | 11 a.m. (ET) | Live Stats
 
Saturday, Feb. 21 | Ripon College
Grand Park | Indianapolis, Indiana | 2 p.m. (ET) | Live Stats
 
Tuesday, Feb. 24 | University of Iowa
Duane Banks Field | Iowa City, Iowa | 3:05 p.m. | Live Stats
 
The Wartburg College baseball team opens the 2026 campaign with a four-game road stretch, beginning Friday in Indianapolis, Indiana, with a 5 p.m. (ET) matchup against Marian University. The Knights continue the weekend Saturday with a doubleheader, facing Heidelberg University at 11 a.m. (ET) before squaring off with Ripon College at 2 p.m. (ET).

Wartburg returns to action Tuesday, Feb. 24, traveling to Iowa City for a 3:05 p.m. first pitch against the University of Iowa at Duane Banks Field.
 
Marian University
Last Season - 22-21 overall, 14-10 (NACC)
All-Time Series - No prior meetings between both programs
 
Heidelberg University
Last Season- 15-25 overall, 6-12 (OAC)
All-Time Series- No prior meetings between both programs
 
Ripon College
Last Season- 17-23 overall, 10-11 (MWC)
All-Time Series- The Knights won the only meeting on 5/6/2013 (W, 10-0)

University of Iowa
This Season- 3-1 overall
Last Season- 33-22-1 overall, 21-9 (Big Ten)
All-Time Series- No prior meetings between both programs
 
Baseball Preseason Media Availability 

 
Season Preview
The Wartburg College baseball team has been selected to finish third in the 2026 American Rivers Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league announced today.

The Knights earned 41 points, marking their highest preseason ranking since tying for third prior to the 2021 season. Wartburg finished fourth in last year's conference tournament.

Head coach Casey Klunder, entering his third season at the helm, has compiled a 44-39 overall record and has taken the Knights to the conference tournament in each of his two seasons. During the 2025 season, Klunder guided the team to four All-Conference honorees and saw four players recognized as College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District. Over his three seasons, Klunder has coached eight All-Conference players, two All-Region selections, and one All-American.

The Knights return a blend of experience with 15 freshmen, 18 sophomores, 10 juniors, eight seniors, and one fifth-year player. Wartburg ranked among the program's best in several statistical categories last season, including second in hit-by-pitches (62), fifth in home runs (38), seventh in strikeouts (304), and tied for eighth in runners picked off (6).
 
Wartburg leads the American Rivers Conference with 23 league championships, with its most recent title coming in 2017.
 
2026 A-R-C BASEBALL PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1. Coe - 64 (8)
2. Buena Vista - 57 (1)
3. Wartburg - 41
4. Luther - 38
5. Nebraska Wesleyan - 33
6. Loras - 30
7. Central - 23
8. Univ. of Dubuque - 20
9. Simpson - 18