2008: Appeared in all 49 games, starting all but one ... Collected 65 hits to finish with 256 for his career, second best in Northwestern history and just four shy of the top spot ... Led the team in five categories, including at-bats (200), runs (45), hits (65), stolen bases (12) and triples (5) ... Second on the squad in doubles (13), home runs (6), total bases (106) and slugging percentage (.530), and was third in batting average (.325), runs batted in (36), and walks (18) ... Collected an impressive .370 batting average with runners on base ... Went 5-for-8 (.625) with the bases loaded ... Also tied for a team best in multiple RBI games with 10 ... Held the team's longest hitting streak of the season (18), racking up 16 RBI and 18 runs on 25 hits ... Ended the season on a seven-game hitting streak ... Went 4-for-4 with four runs scored and four RBI at Purdue (3/29) ... Added 200 at-bats and 45 runs to career total (769 and 157, respectively), both good for third all-time in Northwestern history ... Also made one appearance on the mound, striking out one vs. Elmhurst (5/6) ... Preseason selection to the Brooks Wallace Award Watch List.
2007: Has started 142 consecutive games, including all 54 in 2007 ... Second-team All-Big Ten selection at third base ... Shattered single-season hit record with 85 hits ... Previous best was 82 set by Pat McMahon in 2005 ... Named Northwestern Most Valuable Player by teammates ... Set career highs in batting average (.385), hits (85), doubles (12), RBI (39), total bases (102), slugging percentage (.462), on-base percentage (.432) and stolen bases (18) ... Led NU with .385 batting average, 85 hits, 48 runs scored and 18 stolen bases ... Ranked second with 12 doubles, 39 RBI, 102 total bases and .462 slugging percentage ... Led all Big Ten third baseman in both batting average and stolen bases ... Tied for first in Big Ten with 127 at bats ... 141 total plate appearances and 49 hits ranked second in Big Ten games ... Tied for fifth in the Big Ten in runs scored and stolen bases ... Enjoyed 28 multi-hit games, including 10 games with at least three hits ... Hit in at least five straight games on four separate occasions during season, which included hitting streaks of 11 and nine games ... Tallied two or more RBI in seven consecutive games (4/21-4/29) ... Went 4-for-4 with two RBI to help to defeat Harvard (4/24) ... Recorded three hits and three RBI at Penn State (4/20) ... Went 19-for-37 during final eight games of the season.
2006: Started all 59 games ... Tied NU single-season at-bat record with 235 in 2006 (last was Jeremy Kurella in 2000) ... Those 235 at-bats led the Big Ten ... Second on team with 75 hits (Mulé, 76) ... Turned a team-best 47 double-plays, second in the Big Ten ... Enjoyed 20 multi-hit games ... Went 8-for-14 in a three-game series at Kentucky (3/3-3/5) ... Recorded 16 RBI batting first or second in order all season ... Led NU and finished seventh in the Big Ten with 48 runs scored ... Those 48 runs are the most scored by a Wildcat since Jeremy Kurella scored 50 in 2000 ... Started season with 11-game hit streak ... Enjoyed hit streaks of eight on two separate occasions during season ... Hit safely in 45 of team's 59 games.
2005: Started first 29 games before suffering a season-ending injury ... Closed 2005 with a .274 batting average (113 at-bats) ... Started every game at second base ... Started first 11 games of Big Ten season ... Hit .310 (13-for-42) in Big Ten action ... Was 7-for-8 in stolen bases, including a perfect 4-for-4 in the Big Ten ... Had first collegiate hit in second collegiate at bat vs. Kansas State in Phoenix, Ariz. ... Had a career-high six hits (in eight at-bats) vs. Mount St. Mary's in Bradenton, Fla. ... Also tallied four RBI in six-hit game ... Went 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI in first career Big Ten game at Indiana.
High School: Four-year varsity letterwinner in baseball ... Also lettered four times in football and basketball ... Three-time all-state in baseball ... Four-time all-conference in baseball ... Two-time team MVP in baseball, football and basketball ... Led team to 2003 Wisconsin state baseball championship ... Also received all-state honors in football (twice) and basketball ... Owns state record for most career interceptions (33) as a defensive back ... Received all-conference honors seven times in football and three in basketball ... Class salutatorian ... Member of National Honor Society ... Honor Roll student ... High school baseball coach was Wayne Sankey.
Personal: Born Jacob Daniel Owens on March 1, 1986 ... Son of Terry and Pam Owens ... Brother Josh played baseball at Northern Illinois ... Chose Northwestern over Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa and Bradley ... Double major in economics as well as learning and organizational change.
Owens' Career Stats
Year Avg GP-GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB SLG% BB HBP SO GDP OB% SF SH SB-ATT PO A E FLD%2005.... .274 29-29 113 16 31 1 2 0 13 36 .319 11 2 23 3 .346 1 3 7-8 50 79 12 .9152006.... .319 59-59 235 48 75 11 2 1 16 93 .396 20 2 35 4 .376 1 6 9-13 146 169 16 .9522007.... .385 54-54 221 48 85 12 1 1 39 102 .462 20 0 24 5 .432 2 3 18-22 64 84 13 .9192008.... .325 49-48 200 45 65 13 5 6 36 106 .530 18 1 26 4 .382 1 1 12-20 95 106 5 .976TOTAL... .333 191-190 769 157 256 37 10 8 104 337 .438 69 5 108 16 .389 5 13 46-63 355 438 46 .945