RUSTON, La. – With a school-record 37 home games, including nine games against Power Five opponents at the new J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park, head coach Lane Burroughs announced the Bulldogs' 2021 baseball schedule on Thursday afternoon.
 
The 56-game regular season schedule includes three home series against Power Five opponents – Illinois (Feb. 19-21), Arkansas (March 12-14) and Ole Miss (March 16-17). The Bulldogs will open the 2021 campaign in their new stadium with a four-game series against the Fighting Illini, which is the first time since 2017 the Bulldogs have opened the season in Ruston.
 
Louisiana Tech's 37 home games are two more than the program has had in its history, surpassing a previous high of 35 home contests in 1984 and 1978.
 
"It's been over 18 months since we've been able to call a ballpark our home, and we couldn't be more excited to host a school-record 37 home games this year in the new 'Love Shack.'" Burroughs said. "Our team has had a fantastic start to the fall, and our guys have been battle-tested both on and off the field.
 
"We have a group of young men that are hungry to get back on the field and make our fans, our university and our community proud. It's an exciting time to be a Bulldog, and we are ready to make some amazing memories in the 2021 season."
 
LA Tech will face eight teams that made the 2019 NCAA Tournament, including Southeastern Conference opponents Arkansas, LSU and Ole Miss. Arkansas defeated Ole Miss in the Super Regionals to advance to the College World Series two seasons ago.
 
Arkansas, LSU and Arkansas are all ranked inside the top 10 of Baseball America's Never Too Early Top 25. Tech's game against the Tigers is set for May 11 in Baton Rouge.
 
The Diamond Dogs will host five home series against Conference USA opponents, all of which will count toward their conference record except for a two-game series against Rice to close out the regular season. The Diamond Dogs will host UAB (April 1-3), Southern Miss (April 16-18), Marshall (April 23-25), UTSA (May 14-16) and Rice (May 20-21) in Ruston.
 
LA Tech will play eight different opponents from the state of Louisiana – Louisiana-Lafayette, Southern, McNeese State, Tulane, ULM, Southeastern Louisiana, Northwestern State and LSU.
 
Tech's matchup against the Green Wave will be its first since 2014 and its first matchup against Tulane in New Orleans since 1988. The Diamond Dogs defeated Louisiana-Lafayette, Southeastern Louisiana and McNeese State in the shortened 2020 season.
 
After opening their new ballpark against Illinois, LA Tech will travel to Louisiana-Lafayette for a midweek matchup on Feb. 23. Louisiana Tech will then host its next 14 games with matchups against Southern (Feb. 26-28), UL-Lafayette (March 2), McNeese State (March 5-7), Army (March 9-10), Arkansas (March 12-14) and Ole Miss (March 16-17).
 
Tech's two games against Army will be the first between the two programs in their respective histories. The Bulldogs' home games against Ole Miss will mark the first time Ole Miss has traveled to Ruston since 2001. LA Tech hosted Arkansas for a two-game series in 2017, which included a 4-3 Bulldogs' victory in game one of that series.
 
Tech opens conference play at Southern Miss on March 26. The Bulldogs travel to four conference opponents in 2021 – Southern Miss, Rice (April 9-11), Middle Tennessee (April 30-May 2) and FIU (May 7-9).
 
Other home opponents on the Diamond Dogs' schedule include ULM, Northwestern State and Little Rock.
 
Both the baseball and softball schedules have been released, but LA Tech Athletics reminds fans things could change based on the current landscape of college athletics due to COVID-19.
 
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