FLORENCE, Ala. -- The University of North Alabama broke ground Tuesday on a new 3,500-square-foot Hilda B. Anderson Indoor Hitting Facility at the Lions' home softball field.  

This addition is adjacent to the team's existing outdoor hitting facility and bullpen areas at the Hilda B. Anderson Softball Complex on Cox Creek Parkway. It will sit just off of the team's existing locker room along the right field line, adding both training and clubhouse elements.

The facility will include two additional covered batting tunnels and turf training spaces, along with a climate-controlled indoor player's lounge for team functions.

The new facility gives the team expanded indoor/outdoor training options and a formal clubhouse in addition to its existing locker room space.

"The successful elevation of North Alabama Softball continues in a major way with the addition of the Hilda B. Anderson Indoor Hitting Facility," said UNA Director of Athletics Dr. Josh Looney. " Coach Ashley Cozart has successfully evolved UNA Softball from an NCAA Division II National Champion into a 40-win post-season Division I program, and this new facility greatly assists our vision for sustaining record-setting success while competing at the highest level. We are so appreciative to the Anderson Family, and the Shoals community, for their continued support of UNA Softball. This program takes great pride in making this community proud on and off the diamond."

Cozart echoed Looney's excitement.

"This addition is something that we have been missing as we have moved to Division I," said Cozart. "This will be a huge asset to our current team. It will also help with recruiting, camps, and many other things as we continue to grow as a program. To be able to have a space that our athletes can hang out in and use to get better at any time is huge for us. Showing potential recruits this facility will set us apart from others now and help us build toward our goals! We are excited about all the possibilities we will have and appreciate everyone involved in making this possible."

The Hilda B. Anderson Softball Complex has seen on-going additions and upgrades for the last few years. A previous significant gift from the Anderson's in 2016 allowed UNA to enhance the stadium's seating, hitting facility, scoreboard and improve field conditions and drainage. During the 2019 season, North Alabama made additional renovations to the complex after another donation from the Anderson family. That gift allowed UNA to re-do the ticket booth, entry way and plaza, along with other projects at the facility. The facility was also officially named the Hilda B. Anderson Softball Complex.

"The Anderson family has been such a huge part of our success as a program since I have been at UNA," Cozart added. "This family has meant more to us than they know. Their generosity and support of our team has helped us in so many ways. We are so grateful they have invested in us and we are able to have such a great relationship with them. When you look at our field, you will see Mrs. Hilda everywhere around it, and that makes us so happy! We are so thankful for the opportunities they have provided for our girls and hope they know how much they mean to us!"