ATLANTA (February 8, 2023) – The Atlantic Sun Conference announced the 2024 preseason honors and awards for baseball on Wednesday, as University of North Alabama graduate infielder Kyle Machado was named to the ASUN Preseason All-Conference team at first base, while the team was selected to finish 11th by the league's head coaches. 

Machado was one of 14 members selected to the preseason All-ASUN team. Machado started in 49 games for the Lions last season and led the squad in batting average (.324), on base percentage (.447), slugging percentage (.565), home runs (9) and RBIs (44). 

The first baseman also set new UNA Division I records for slugging percentage (.565), RBIs (44), home runs (9) and total bases (96) in his first season with the program. 

The ASUN also announced its winners for Preseason Fan Vote Awards with senior pitcher Jacob James being named the ASUN Preseason Pitcher of the Year in a vote by fans on social media. James is entering his fifth season with the program and has made 52 career appearances for the Lions. 

Reigning champion Lipscomb was selected as the preseason favorite with seven first place votes, followed by FGCU with two first place votes. Jacksonville was selected third with one first place vote, followed by Stetson, Kennesaw State, Austin Peay, EKU, North Florida, Central Arkansas, Queens, North Alabama and Bellarmine. Kennesaw State and Austin Peay each earned one first place vote.

The Lions finished last season 13th out of 14 teams, one spot ahead of Bellarmine. However, UNA closed out its 2023 season with five wins in the final six games with series wins over Kennesaw State and Austin Peay. 

The Lions open the 2024 campaign at South Alabama on Friday, January 16 at 6:30 p.m. before taking on Southern Indiana on Saturday and Lamar on Sunday — both in Mobile, Ala. 


Superlative Awards
Preseason Player of the Year: Lyle Miller-Green, Austin Peay
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Trace Willhoite, Lipscomb
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Evan Chrest, Jacksonville

Preseason All-ASUN Team
Name                        Pos     School
Jesse Barker             SP     Central Arkansas
Evan Chrest              SP     Jacksonville
Peter Holden             SP     North Florida
Hayden Frank           RP     Lipscomb
Austin Kelly               C       Lipscomb
Kyle Machado          1B     North Alabama
Justin Nadeau           2B     Jacksonville
Trace Willhoite          3B     Lipscomb
Jacob Lojewski         SS     FGCU
Alex Vergara             OF     Lipscomb
Clayton Gray            OF     Austin Peay
Lyle Miller-Green      OF     Austin Peay
Harrison Povey         OF     FGCU
Spencer Hanson       DH     Kennesaw State

* a tie in voting resulted in a 14-person team

Preseason Coaches Poll
Pl. Team (1st Place Votes) Points
1. Lipscomb (7)                  137
2. FGCU (2)                       123
3. Jacksonville (1)              115
4. Stetson                          103
5. Kennesaw State (1)       99
6. Austin Peay (1)              84
7. EKU                               77
8. North Florida                 65
9. Central Arkansas          56
10. Queens                       30
11. North Alabama          25
12. Bellarmine                  22

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.