Owens’ Hot Bat Is a Cool Weapon for the Titans

Cal State Fullerton’s Ryan Owens wasn’t happy about being picked in the seventh round in last Wednesday’s amateur draft.

But he’s showing scouts that they might have made a mistake.

Owens has been on hitting tear since the NCAA playoffs began.

Owens hit two home runs Saturday night to help lead the Titans to an 11-5 victory over Ohio State in the second game of best-of-three super-regional series. Owens is six for nine in the two games against the Buckeyes, with three home runs and 11 runs batted in.

Owens, a junior shortstop-third baseman, has five home runs and 16 RBIs in five games in the NCAA tournament, including the three in the Notre Dame regional. He has 10 hits in 22 at-bats in the postseason.

“The draft really bothered me,” Owens said. “The people I’ve talked to, including our coaches and my friends, don’t understand it either. I guess it’s not as much upsetting as it is frustrating. I have no problem with being drafted by Arizona, but I’m sorry it was that low.”

Ohio State pitchers have felt the sting this week.

“I don’t know what it is, but I’m really seeing the ball well right now,” Owens said. “It’s like a balloon, instead of a baseball.” Owens said he’s trying to keep his mind off his professional future this week.

“I just want to finish our season on a good note,” Owens said. “I know I don’t want our season to end here. I’m playing as hard as I can, but I’m still trying to relax at the plate. I think that’s helping.”

Titan Coach George Horton hopes Owens can keep it going. “He’s in a zone right now, and he’s making the game look awfully easy,” Horton said. “He’s keeping his swing short, and that’s not easy when you’re hitting as well as he is.”

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Owens’ two home runs Saturday gave him 23 for the season and moves him into tie for second place among the Titans’ all-time single-season home run leaders.

Owens is tied with Tim Wallach (1979) and John Christensen (1981) and is five behind the school’s all-time season leader, Bob Caffrey, who hit 28 in 1984.

Owens has surpassed Phil Nevin’s 22 homers in 1992, and the 21 Mark Kotsay hit in 1995 when the Titans won the College World Series.

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Titan outfielder Reed Johnson said he was feeling a little anxious before Saturday night’s game against Ohio State. “I kind of felt like our backs were against the wall after losing Friday,” Johnson said. “I was thinking that this could be my last game. But then when the game started, I just relaxed and played baseball. The key for us was that we got ahead early, and kept it going.”

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The game at 10 this morning will be televised live by OCN.