No.5 Texas Tech Hosts Northern Illinois in Sixth Annual Brooks Wallace Memorial Series
Fifth-ranked Texas Tech (4-1) hosts Northern Illinois (3-0) this weekend for the sixth-annual Brooks Wallace Memorial Series at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.
The series honors former student-athlete and assistant coach Brooks Wallace.
Friday’s double header begins at 2 p.m., with the nightcap beginning 30-45 minutes after the conclusion of the game one.
Due to an inclement weather forecast in the region Sunday, the Red Raiders and Huskies altered the schedule and will play a doubleheader on Saturday as well beginning at noon. Game two commences 30-45 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
This weekend concludes the Red Raiders season-long nine-game homestand to begin the season. The Red Raiders are in the midst of playing 11 games in 14 days (Feb. 17 - Mar. 2) while welcoming the Huskies to Lubbock for the fourth time in the last five years.
Tech suffered its first loss of the season on Tuesday to Nevada during an 8-4 defeat. The loss snapped a 20-game home win streak for Tech which dated back to last season.
The Huskies traveled to Clarksville, Tennessee for opening weekend where they came away with a 3-0 record on a neutral site. NIU claimed victories over South Dakota State (10-6 and 9-6) and Niagara (15-5).
Texas Tech leads Northern Illinois 16-2 in the all-time series which dates back to 2004. Tech is 14-2 against NIU in Lubbock, and 2-0 vs. NIU on a neutral field (San Marcos, Texas, 2008).
Wallace, who is one of four Red Raiders to have their jersey number (#22) retired, died at the age of 27 on March 24, 1985 after an on-going bout with leukemia. Wallace played at Tech from 1977-80 while earning All-SWC honors and All-District VI recognition.
He was twice selected in the MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers (21st Round) in 1980 and also by the New York Mets following his junior season at Tech in 1979. Wallace served as a graduate assistant coach under Kal Segrist in 1983 and as an assistant coach under Gary Ashby in 1984-85.
The former Red Raider’s name is also attached to the College Baseball Foundation’s Brooks Wallace Award -- an honor given annually to the nation’s top collegiate shortstop.