Diamond ’Dogs practice on J.C. Love Field

For the first time in 658 days, the Louisiana Tech University baseball team practiced on its actual home field Tuesday afternoon as the Diamond ’Dogs hit the turf at the new J.C. Love Field. The Diamond ’Dogs had not played or practiced at the facility since the night of April 24, 2019, when the Bulldogs fell 5-3 to McNeese State. Early the next morning — on April 25, 2019 — a tornado roared through Ruston and across the Tech campus, destroying the university’s baseball, softball and soccer facilities. Tech is slated to open the 2021 baseball season against Notre Dame on Feb. 19 in Baton Rouge and is scheduled to play its home opener on Feb. 26 against Southern University.