The North Alabama lions were picked eighth in the preseason ASUN conference by ASUN coaches around the league. They gained 14 votes to place them inside the top eight and right above New Jersey Institute of Technology.

UNA is set to start the season renewing an old rivalry with Jacksonville State Feb. 15.

Seven position players and eight pitchers return for the Lions first Division-I year, including senior shortstop Peyton Sockwell and senior second baseman Davis Elliott.

The Lions will play their first ASUN conference game against the Kennesaw State Owls Mar. 22.

UNA will play eight three-game series with conference opponents that will make a 24 game conference schedule. The ASUN conference teams are located in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, New Jersey and Virginia.

League members include Jacksonville, Florida Gulf Coast, Liberty, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, North Florida, Stetson and New Jersey Institute of Technology.

The Lions will play five more games than last year. In 2018, the Lions finished the season 31-20 in the Gulf South Conference and fifth overall in the conference with a 19-11 record.

North Alabama ended the season with a 22-7 home record and a 9-11 away record.

The Lions ended their Division-II GSC campaign behind Delta State, Montevallo, West Florida and Mississippi College.

The Lions were seeded behind Stetson (6 first place votes) 77 points, Jacksonville (2) 73 points, Liberty 59 points, FGCU (1) 56, Kennesaw State 45 points, North Florida 38 points and Lipscomb 30 points.

North Alabama received 14 votes from coaches around the league, one up from the last placed NJIT who garnered 13 votes.

The Lions will play a 55 game schedule their first season as a Division-I team. They will play teams such as Alabama, Ole Miss, Memphis and more.