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The softball program at the University of North Alabama began in 1983 under the direction of Ande Jones and was the pace-setter for the rest of the Gulf South Conference in the early years.

When the GSC began awarding championships in women’s sports in 1982, softball was one of the sports added by the league schools.

For the first three years of the program, UNA and the GSC competed in slow-pitch softball, with the Lions winning the league’s first GSC softball championship in 1983 with a 27-4 record.

The  Lions posted a 59-41 record during those three seasons, before UNA and the GSC switched to fast- pitch in 1986 and began competing at the NCAA Division II level.

In 1986, the first season of fast-pitch softball, UNA posted a 16-10 overall record and won the GSC title with an 8-4 win over Mississippi College in the championship game.

The following year, the Lions and Lady Choctaws met again in the GSC title game, with UNA again prevailing 12-3.

The Lions finished that season at 20-11 for their third 20-win season in the first five years of the program, and followed with a 21-10 record in 1988.

UNA’s fast-pitch record for the last 21 seasons stands at 407-484, and the Lions have produced numerous All-GSC and Academic All-GSC performers. Michele Logan was the school's first three-time All- GSC pick. She also earned Academic All-GSC honors three straight times.

In 1999 Jodi Johnson became the Lions first four-time All-GSC performer.

After the 1999 season, the Lions produced a 118-151 record over the next five years before having a breakout season in 2005. UNA produced its best season ever, going 36-20 and returned to  the GSC tourney seeded No. 3 in the East Division.

Despite having only two seniors on the roster, the Lions broke or tied 15 team and individual school records in head coach Jeremy Reece's fourth year at the helm.

The 2006 season proved to be even better for the Lions as Reece guided the team to its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament. After finishing the season as the No. 2 seed in the GSC East Division, UNA advanced to the South Region Tournament, where it went 1-2 to complete a 40-20 record on the year.

Three players were named first team All-GSC, including Jessica Liddy, who earned the honor for the third straight season. Liddy's honors did not end there, however. The junior was also named first team, All-South Region and went on to become the softball program's first All-American after earning second-team honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).

Proud Member of the
Gulf South Conference &
National Collegiate Athletic Association