FLORENCE, Ala. (February 15, 2024) – The University of North Alabama baseball team is set to open up the 2024 season at the South Alabama Invitational with three games against different opponents in Mobile, Ala. The Lions begin the weekend with South Alabama on Friday at 6:30 p.m. before taking on Southern Indiana at noon Saturday and wrapping up the opening weekend with Lamar on Sunday at 11 a.m.
 
The 2024 season is North Alabama's sixth year at the Division I level and the second under head coach Jad Prachniak. The Lions have 54 games on the slate, including 12 midweek games and 14 weekend matchups.
 
SERIES
Game Notes
 
GAME 1
North Alabama at South Alabama
Friday, February 16, 2024
6:30 p.m.
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GAME 2
North Alabama vs. Southern Indiana
Saturday, February 17, 2024
NOON
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GAME 3
North Alabama vs. Lamar
Saturday, February 18, 2024
11 a.m.
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NOTES
 
2023 Recap: North Alabama won five of the final six games last season to finish strong in year one of the Jad Prachniak era. The Lions won eight conference games, the most since 2018 — UNA's final season at the NCAA Division II level. Prachniak led the Lions to 14 wins, the most by a North Alabama team since 2019 when the team won 16 games. 
 
Roster Outlook: The 2024 UNA roster features 26 returning lettermen from the 2023 squad and 12 newcomers. The Lions return eight starting position players and all three weekend starting pitchers. Of the 12 newcomers, 10 are transfers and two are freshmen. From last year's team, Levi Jensen, Dominick McIntyre, Jackson Ferrigno, Andrew Knight, Jonathan Lane, Ethan Walker, Gehrig Frei and Kyle Machado all started 35 or more games, while Jacob James and Jacob Bradshaw both started eight or more games.
 
Preseason Looks: North Alabama first baseman Kyle Machado was selected to the Preseason All-ASUN Team voted on by league head coaches. The graduate infielder holds the UNA Division I single-season program records for slugging percentage (.565), RBIs (44), home runs (9) and total bases (96) after just his first season with the program. 
 
Fan Favorite: UNA left-handed pitcher Jacob James also earned preseason honors, being named the ASUN Preseason Pitcher of the Year in a fan vote conducted on social media. James is entering his fifth season with the program and has made 52 career appearances for the Lions.  
 
Series History: The season opening series will be the first meeting in program history with both South Alabama and Southern Indiana. UNA has met with Lamar on one occasion, where the Lions defeated the Cardinals 8-5 in Florence in 1990.
 
He Gets On Base: UNA infielder Jackson Ferrigno closed out his 2023 campaign with a 27-game reached base streak. The Connecticut transfer is just four games shy of tying the North Alabama Division I record for consecutive games reached base safety set by Luke Harper in 2022 at 31 games. Ferrigno has safely reached base in every game since March 28, 2023 at Auburn. 
 
Scouting the Jaguars: South Alabama wrapped up the 2023 season with a 23-31 record, including an 11-19 record in Sun Belt play. The Jaguars were selected to finish eighth in the conference in the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches Poll. They are led by head coach Mark Calvi who has a 344-255 record entering his 12th season with the program.
 
Scouting the Screaming Eagles: Southern Indiana is entering its second season at the Division I level after posting a 17-38 record in year one as members of the Ohio Valley Conference. The Screaming Eagles were picked to finish eighth in the OVC after losing in the first round of the 2023 OVC tournament to conference champion Eastern Illinois. USI is led by head coach Tracy Archuleta who is in his 18th season with the program and has a 544-351 record in his time with the Screaming Eagles. 
 
Scouting the Cardinals: Lamar finished last season with a 32-23 record as members of the Southland Conference and finished fourth in the league with a 13-11 conference record. The Cardinals were selected to finish second in the preseason coaches poll and had three preseason first-team selections. Head coach Will Davis is entering his eighth season with the program and has posted an almost even 171-174 record. 
 
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.