Year One at the New Love Shack

year one

at the new love shack

The 2021 campaign was a magical one as the Diamond Dogs were set to play its first full season at the new “Love Shack”. It had been 675 days since the last time Louisiana Tech baseball team hosted a baseball game on the corner of Alabama Avenue and Tech Drive and on February 26, 2021, the Bulldogs were set to begin a new era at the Love Shack. The Diamond Dogs played host to Southern and came out victorious 9-2. Former Bulldog All-American, Parker Bates, blasted the first home run at the new ballpark and Greg Martinez recorded the park’s first victory on the mound.

On March 14 the Diamond Dogs made history becoming the first Louisiana Tech team in history to knock off the No. 1 ranked team in the country. Bulldog right-hander Jarret Whorff went the distance tossing a complete-game two-hit shutout against Arkansas to salvage game three of the weekend series. Whorff punched out 10 Razorbacks and handing Arkansas their first loss of the season.

Just days later, No. 4 ranked Ole Miss visited the new Love Shack and Ruston native Cade Gibson did not disappoint on the bump. Gibson earned the win as the Bulldogs dominated the Rebels 13-1, making it the second straight win versus a top 5 ranked opponent.

In the final conference game of the regular season, the Diamond Dogs run-ruled UTSA 17-7 and clinching the C-USA West Division title. Tech trailed 7-5 going into the bottom of the fifth, but managed to score 12 unanswered runs en route to victory.

The Love Shack played host to the Conference USA Tournament where Bulldog faithful witnessed more magic on the diamond. Tech pulled off two remarkable comeback wins over Southern Miss to advance to the Championship Game versus Old Dominion, then falling short in that one 7-5.

For the first time in program history the Diamond Dogs of Louisiana Tech were on their way to hosting its first ever NCAA Regional in the first year of the new Love Shack. The Bulldogs claimed the No. 16 national seed. The Bulldogs cruised to victory in the first game of the Ruston Regional, 18-2, over Rider. Tech then fell to NC State, setting up an elimination game versus Alabama. In an offensive seesaw type of game, the Bulldogs defeated the Crimson Tide 10-8 and would have to go up against NC State once again. The Wolfpack took the next one 14-7 ending the Bulldogs historic season of 2021. The Diamond Dogs finished with a record of 42-20 and a home record of 25-14.

“What an atmosphere our fans created,” said Head Coach Lane Burroughs. “It was electric. You lifted our men up and basically said you are not losing today, you are going to win this game. We have talked about building a legacy. You be the team that future teams look back and say that’s the team that started it. What a year it was to be a Bulldog.”