FLORENCE, Ala. (February 22, 2024) – The University of North Alabama baseball team hosts Morehead State for a three-game set this weekend in Florence, Ala., with the first game coming at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 23 at Mike D. Lane Field. UNA is coming off of a 6-2 midweek loss to Belmont on Tuesday. The Lions look to bounce back with the first-ever meeting against Morehead State in baseball.
GAME 1
Morehead State at North Alabama
Friday, February 23, 2024
4:00 p.m.
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GAME 2
Morehead State at North Alabama
Saturday, February 24, 2024
2:00 p.m.
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GAME 3
Morehead State at North Alabama
Sunday, February 25, 2024
1:00 p.m.
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NOTES
Last Time Out: The Lions drove in a pair of runs, but could not overcome a 12-hit performance from Belmont on Tuesday. The Lions notched five hits of their own including doubles from
Alex Wilson and
Leighton Jenkins, along with an RBI single from
Jackson Ferrigno to extend his reached base streak.
Sit 'Em Down: North Alabama starting pitcher
Jacob James is tied for 11th in all of NCAA Division I baseball for most strikeouts through the first week of the season. James tallied 11 strikeouts in just five innings in his season opening start against South Alabama. The senior ranks sixth all time for most strikeouts in a UNA career with 189.
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: 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 53 career appearances for the Lions.
Finally the Weekend: Morehead State is the first weekend opponent the Lions will play a three-game set with this season. UNA opened the year at the South Alabama Invitational, playing three games against three opponents. UNA won four weekend series last season, including sweeps over Miami (OH), Bellarmine and Kennesaw State. North Alabama also defeated Austin Peay in the final series of the season.
Record Chasing: UNA infielder
Jackson Ferrigno has reached base in 31 consecutive games, tying the UNA Division I record. With a hit, walk or hit by pitch on Friday, he will break 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.
Series History: The two schools have never met before in baseball. Morehead State is one of three UNA opponents that the Lions face for the first time this season. UNA has already met with the other two opponents this season, including South Alabama and Southern Indiana in the opening weekend series.
Scouting the Eagles: Morehead State enters the game against UNA with a 2-2 record following a series win over Davidson and a loss to Kentucky. The Eagles are under first year head coach Brady Ward who earned his first career win on Feb. 16 over Davidson, 7-4.
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