RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech's baseball team will host Legends Days in celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the 1971 Bulldogs baseball team, a group that set 20 team records and 12 individual records. LA Tech finished the 1971 season 36-14 while also opening its own new facility, the original J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.
 
Legends Day is an opportunity to honor players, coaches and support staff members of past Bulldog baseball teams.
 
This year's Legends Day will take place on Saturday, April 17, when Tech hosts Southern Miss at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park. The Bulldogs will play a pair of seven-inning games on April 17 as part of their four-game conference weekends.
 
The 1971 team navigated moving into the original J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park nicely, posting a 13-4 home record. The stadium was described at the time to be one of the "finest baseball stadiums in the South" by several sportswriters.
 
Two of LA Tech's most memorable triumphs from the 1971 season came against in-state foe LSU and Houston to open the 1971 campaign. The Bulldogs won six straight games and eight of their first 10 contests to open the season.
 
The 'Dogs finished the 1971 season strong with a 14-4 record in their final 18 Gulf States Conference matchups, winning the conference outright with head coach Pat "Gravy" Patterson managing from the dugout. LA Tech's finish to the season helped the Bulldogs make their first of eight NCAA Regional appearances as a program.
 
Patterson's squad won three games at the NCAA Regionals, knocking off UT-Martin twice and Marietta College once at Pioneer Park in Marietta, Ohio. 
 
"We are excited to welcome this team back to Ruston and to the brand-new J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park," LTAC Director Jarred Latta said. "Fifty years ago, they represented this University and community with a memorable season.

"This group paved the way for what would be future and current Bulldog student-athletes."
 
Members of the 1971 team who wish to attend must RSVP by calling Jarred Latta at (318) 497-7986 or email him at jlatta@latechalumni.org.