May 22, 2012

Complete Release

LUBBOCK, Texas - Only three days removed from his Northern Illinois baseball career, former Huskie Alex Jones has been named 1-of-25 finalists for the Brooks Wallace Award. The award, sponsored by Mizuno, recognizes the nation's top shortstop and will be presented June 30 in Lubbock, Texas, as part of the College Baseball Hall of Fame's Night of Champions.

"It's a tremendous recognition for Alex to be included on the list," said Head Coach Ed Mathey. "It's a great honor and to be included on the top-25 is a testament to the type of player he's been here for NIU. It sheds some positive light on our program. Good things are going on despite our expectations and desires. I couldn't be happier for Alex, his family and NIU baseball."

The 2011 first team All-MAC and Mideast region shortstop is the Mid-American Conference's lone representative on the list and joins an elite group of players from 10 national ranked teams, including No. 2 Florida, No. 9 LSU and No. 10 Oregon. No. 20 Oregon State, who played the Huskies March 4, also features a player on the list.

Jones closed the 2012 campaign with 53 starts and appearances for the Huskies, leading the team in several statistical categories on offense and defense, including batting average (.322), hits (68), doubles (21), triples (4), runs (33), on-base percentage (.379), slugging percentage (.474) and assists (148). Defensively in 244 chances, Jones only committed seven errors on the diamond for the Huskies and helped turn 31 of NIU's 42 double plays in 2012.

Jones was named the MAC West Player of the Week following a four game week, where he accumulated seven hits in 14 at-bats (.500), six RBI, three runs, four walks, a double and a stolen base with on-base percentage of .714. In conference play, Jones lead the MAC in triples (3) and was second in doubles (11).

He is second all-time in NIU history in career hits (263) and leads the program in career triples (15), breaking the record 32-year old record March 17 versus Illinois. He also sits third in career doubles (55), and despite only 10 career home runs, the Kansas City, Kan., native ranks fifth all-time in total bases (379).

The Huskies closed their season last Saturday with a three-game series loss to Ball State, that eliminated them from Mid-American Conference Tournament contention.