The freshman outfielder/pitcher was arrested on campus shortly after the Red Raiders' home series against CSU Bakersfield.
LUBBOCK, Texas - On Monday March 2, Texas Tech baseball player Jesse Rusinek was arrested on campus for suspicion of driving while intoxicated with an open container of alcohol.
After being booked with a Class B misdemeanor, Rusinek, a freshman outfielder/pitcher, was released on a bond.
The Brock, Texas native is a 19-year-old freshman who has jumped to the top of Tim Tadlock's batting order for all three games against CSU Bakersfield last week. Rusinek is hitting .435 (10-for-23) with one home run and seven runs batted in. On the mound, the lefty pitcher has appeared twice, allowing two earned runs over 2.2 innings (6.75 ERA) with three strikeouts.
In the last series, Rusinek recorded five hits in 14 at bats with one RBI as Tech won two of the three games.
Texas Tech Athletics released a statement after Rusinek's arrest this week:
"Texas Tech was made aware Monday morning of an incident with one of its baseball student-athletes. At this time, we continue to gather facts regarding the matter and will determine any discipline internally consistent with the Texas Tech student-athlete code of conduct."
Rusinek's vehicle was stopped near Rip Griffin Park and the baseball team's practice facilities due to the tail lights being out, according to a probably cause affidavit accessed by Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
The paper explains, "The officer ultimately stopped the vehicle in the 600 block of Red Raider Avenue after reportedly seeing the vehicle do a rolling stop at a stop sign, the document states. During the stop, the officer reportedly smelled alcohol on the driver, identified as Rusinek, who appeared sleepy and had glassy eyes, the affidavit states."
After completing a field sobriety test and showing enough signs for the officer to follow through with the arrest, the police found an opened Shaq Beatbox Lemonade (11 percent ABV) beverage in the driver-side door cupholder.
Tadlock shared an update on Rusinek's situation ahead of the Red Raiders' next series against Penn State at home this weekend.
"Everybody knows there's been a little bit of news going around the last couple days," the coach said as he began his weekly media availability.
"We're trying to handle that internally, looking at everything there is to look at about it, and trying to support the young man also. He made a mistake, and we're all very thankful that nobody got hurt when he made the mistake."
The Red Raiders begin the series with the Nittany Lions on Friday March 6 at Rip Griffin Park with Game 1 scheduled for 6:30 p.m.