May 22, 2007

EVANSTON, Ill. - The Big Ten Conference announced the 2007 All-Big Ten baseball teams today. Juniors Antonio Mule and Jake Owens were named second-team all-conference. This is Mule's second conference honor after earning first-team laurels in 2006. This is Owens' first Big Ten distinction.

After starting his first two seasons of collegiate baseball at second base, Owens made the switch to third after 11 games in 2007. After a small adjustment period, the Stevens Point native went on to set Northwestern's single-season hit record with 85 hits in 2007. Owens entered the final weekend of the regular season, needing nine hits to tie the previous record of 82 set in 2005 by Pat McMahon. Not only did he tie the record with nine hits, he shattered it, going 12-for-19 in his final four games.

Along with setting a new single-season hit record, Owens led the Wildcats and all Big Ten third baseman with a .385 batting average and 18 steals. He finished second only to fellow All-Big Ten member Antonio Mulé (41) with 39 RBI.

Mule garners second-team honors with a .353 batting average, which included eighth home runs and 41 RBI. He led the squad with a .454 on-base percentage and was walked an outstanding 36 times. Mule was a first-team recipient in 2006 after leading the conference with 11 home runs.

A complete list of the 2007 All-Big Ten teams is below.

FIRST TEAM
1B - Ryne White, Purdue#
2B - Kevin Cislo, Michigan
SS - Jason White, Iowa
3B - Nate Hanson, Minnesota
OF - Travis Sweet, Iowa
OF - Mike Mee, Minnesota #
OF - Matt Nohelty, Minnesota
DH - Zach Putnam, Michigan
C - Lars Davis, Illinois
SP - Zach Putnam, Michigan
SP - Mike Wilson, Michigan
SP - Cory Luebke, Ohio State #
SP - Craig Clark, Penn State
RP - Drew O'Neil, Penn State

SECOND TEAM
1B - Nate Recknagel, Michigan
2B - Steve Gerstenberger, Michigan State
SS - Jason Christian, Michigan
3B - Jake Owens, Northwestern
OF - Andrew Means, Indiana
OF - Caleb Curry, Iowa
OF - Eric Rose, Michigan
DH - Antonio Mulé, Northwestern
C - Eric Fryer, Ohio State
SP - Tanner Roark, Illinois
SP - Nick Erdman, Iowa
SP - Seth Whitehill, Penn State
SP - Matt Bischoff, Purdue
RP - Josh Oslin, Minnesota

THIRD TEAM
1B - Justin Miller, Ohio State
2B - Justin Toole, Iowa
SS - Dan Lyons, Minnesota
3B - Adam Abraham, Michigan
OF - Doug Pickens, Michigan *
OF - Matt Angle, Ohio State *
OF - J.B. Shuck, Ohio State *
OF - Brian Ernst, Penn State*
DH - Daniel Webb, Illinois
C - Joe Blackburn, Penn State
SP - Chris Fetter, Michigan
SP - Andrew Hess, Michigan
SP - Jon Kibler, Michigan State
SP - Tony Sedlmeyer, Purdue
RP - Kyle Carr, Minnesota

Player of the Year: Lars Davis, Illinois
Pitcher of the Year: Cory Luebke, Ohio State
Freshman of the Year: Matt Bischoff, Purdue
Coach of the Year: Rich Maloney, Michigan

# Unanimous Selection
* Additional honorees due to ties

Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honorees: Shawn Roof, ILL; Jon Fixler, IND; Casey O'Rourke, IOWA; Eric Rose, MICH; Craig Brookes, MSU; Dan Lyons, MINN; Caleb Fields, NU; Jacob Howell, OSU; Seth Whitehill, PSU; Ryne White, PUR