Rusinek’s two-way heroics helps Tech to win at UofA

Friday, March 20

Tucson, AZ

8 p.m. (CT) / 6 p.m. (PT)

Texas Tech Athletics

14-7, 0

Arizona

7-14, 0

Texas Tech

Arizona

Rusinek’s two-way heroics helps Tech to win at UofA

March 21, 2026 | Baseball

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The freshman went 4-for-5, stole two bases and pitched 1.2 hitless innings in Tech’s 9-5 win Friday

By: Andrew Stern

TUCSON, Ariz. – Freshman Jesse Rusinek played right field, went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and recorded five key outs on the mound, in Texas Tech's 9-5 win over Arizona Friday night at Hi Corbett Field.

Up 3-0 after a three-run third inning, Texas Tech (14-7, 3-1 Big 12) overcame a 4-3 deficit after four and 5-4 margin after six to win the series opener on a Friday for the fifth-straight week.

Tech took the 3-0 lead on the first of two-sac flies from Tracer Lopez, a two-out single from Connor Shouse and a dropped pop-up.

Not to be lost in the effort was a 3-for-3 day with two walks from first baseman Robin Villeneuve and a 3-for-5 night from Shouse.

In total the Red Raiders 7-8-9 of catcher Matt Quintanar, Rusinek and Villeneuve combined to go 9-for-12 with six runs scored and two walks. The trio reached base in 11 of their 14 trips to the dish.

Shouse, who tied the game in the seventh on an RBI single, later scored the go-ahead run on a Linkin Garcia RBI single.

The Red Raiders ultimately tacked on a second insurance run in the seventh on an RBI single from Rusinek, the third of four hits he would record on the night.

With Arizona (7-14, 1-3 Big 12) up 4-3 and the bases loaded and one-out in the fifth, Tech turned to sophomore southpaw Jorden Espinoza who coaxed an infield fly popup and liner to short to escape the threat.

Espinoza, who tossed 1.2 innings and allowed just one base runner, earned his first career win.

In the sixth, the Red Raiders threatened with two outs when a Rusinek double into the corner placed the tying run in scoring position for Villeneuve who pulled a ball down the third bae line that UofA third baseman Nate Novitske was able to smother and keep in the infield. The play by Novitske prevented Rusinek from scoring from second base.

The base hit was the ninth and final that UofA starter Owen Kramkowki would allow on the night.

Kramkowski who limited the Red Raiders to just one run in seven innings a season ago, tossed 5.2 innings and allowed four runs (three earned) and the nine hits. He did not walk a batter and whiffed just three. The righty located 66 of his 91 pitches for strikes.

With the tying run 90 feet away and the go-ahead run at second, UofA turned to lefty Maclain Roberts who on 3-2 ended the frame on a flyout. Roberts who entered the night having not allowed a run

After his strong work to end the fifth, the Red Raiders again turned to Espinoza who erased a one out walk on an inning-ending 2-4 caught stealing.

Facing one of the toughest lefties in the Big 12, Lopez led off the seventh with an opposite field single through the six-hole and later came around to score on the game-tying Shouse triple. Lefties entered the day 0-for-15 against Robertsthis season, as the lefty was tagged for three hits and three runs, the first three runs he has allowed all season.

The southpaw entered the day having not allowed a run in 12.2 innings pitched and just five total hits. Opposing batters were hitting a mere .119 off the left-hander and had struck out 17 times.

Armed with the lead for the first time since the fourth, Tech turned to righty Logan Bevis who needed just eight pitches to throw a 1-2-3 seventh.

After the Red Raiders went down quietly in their turn in the eighth, Rusinek came in from right to pitch and ultimately won a pair of eight pitch battles from Arizona's Tony Lira and Maddox Mihalakis.

The two outs sent the game to the ninth where the bottom of the lineup led by Rusinek and Villeneuve again jumpstarted the offense.

With two out and nobody on, Ruisnek singled on an 0-2 count and advanced to second on a four-pitch walk by Villeneuve. With centerfielder Kyeler Thompson at the plate, Rusinek ultimately stole third placing a key insurance run just 90 feet away.

Even in the count 2-2, Thompson dunked a double into left-center that scored Rusinek from third and a streaking Villeneuve who was running with the pitch from first.

The two-RBI double gave the Red Raiders a 9-5 lead.

Returning for the ninth, Rusinek used a 3-1 grounder and a strikeout to put the innings first two outs on the board.

Just one out from recording his first career save and the first save by a Red Raider this season, Ruisnek lost the next UofA batter to a walk.

Looking to nail down the 27th out and move to 14-7 and 3-1 overall in Big 12 play, the Red Raiders turned to righty Will Jordan who used a fielder's choice grounder to seal the win.

In the victory, the Red Raiders recorded 16 total hits and walked base three times. Tech struck out just five times on the night.

By virtue of his 4-for-5 day, Rusinek raised his average to an even .500 and his on-base percentage to .593. On the mound, opponents are hitting just .193 against Rusinek.

UP NEXT:
The Red Raiders will turn to sophomore Connor Mohan on Saturday night for game two of the weekend series with the Wildcats. First pitch from Tucson is set for 8 p.m. (CT)/6 p.m. (PT).