RUSTON, La. – The story has been well-documented.

Tornado hit Ruston in April of 2019.

Destruction. Devastation. Even Death.

Fast forward.

Now almost two full years after the Lady Techster Softball Complex was decimated under a blanket of darkness in the middle of the night, the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel will shine on Friday.

Louisiana Tech hosts Tarleton State at 6 p.m. in the newly-named, newly-constructed Dr. Billy Bundrick Field in the first of six total games this weekend in Ruston.

Tech will play two games against Tarleton and Baylor while the Texans and the Bears will also square off twice against each other.

Tickets are not available for this weekend as Louisiana Tech is already at its COVID capacity for the tournament. However, all four games involving the Lady Techsters will be streamed live on CUSA.tv ($$).

Although the stands won't be full due to COVID restrictions and while many of the areas surrounding the field are still under varying stages of construction, Friday night will truly be historic.

Four members of the Tech roster played on the field formerly known as the Lady Techster Softball Complex. Senior Zoe Hicks, juniors Lindsay Edwards and Hannah Koenig and interim head coach Bianca Duran (LA Tech, 2015) all get to taste the newness of Dr. Billy Bundrick Field while holding close the memories of their former stomping grounds.

"I remember the first time I stepped on the Lady Techsters Softball field as a junior in 2013," said Duran. "It was a day I'll never forget. All my dreams had come true. You work for that moment all your life, and you're finally there surrounded by the most amazing teammates and coaches.

"The amount of history that was made on that field, you get to be a part of it, the amount of fight and elite athletes that have been on that field, you get to be a part of it. Now, looking at all the growth that's taken place in this program and to see it gifted with this remarkable facility, there's no words to quite describe it."

Practice has been taking place on the fresh new turf for the past few weeks. And the Lady Techsters have played seven road or neutral site contests thus far in 2021. But nothing will compare to this Friday night's lights.
 
"I would give anything to be out at third this weekend, but even getting the chance to be in the dugout and finally feel the presence of our fans is going to be a reminder of how much support our program has had through every obstacle we have faced. It's a feeling I have looked forward to having since that Western Kentucky series in Monroe we played after the tornado. To say I'm excited would be an understatement."

Hard to believe it's been almost two full years since that 2019 Lady Techster team used the emotion of loss as motivation for gain, winning 5 of its last 6 games to capture the C-USA regular season title and then rolling through the league championship to qualify for an NCAA Regional.

"I could not be more excited," said Hicks. "It's been almost two years since we've played a game at home. We're starting a new era at such an incredible park, and I cannot wait for my teammates, the coaches and our fans to be able to experience the atmosphere"  

This 2021 Techsters are excited about sharing the historic night with their fans.

"The Ruston community is so close and has the most supportive fans," said Koenig. "It's means a lot to be able to play in front of them and have them be a part of our program here at home. We are so blessed to have a field we can call home again, and I am so thankful for all of the hard work that has gone into it."