BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Senior first baseman Sonny DiChiara and sophomore right-hander Joseph Gonzalez have been tabbed the Southeastern Conference Co-Player and Co-Pitcher of the Week, the league office announced Monday.
It marks the first time Auburn has had two players earn the conference's distinction in the same week in program history. DiChiara is the team's first SEC Player of the Week since 2018, and Gonzalez is the first SEC Pitcher of the Week this season.
DiChiara recorded a hit in all four games last week, including multiple hits and multiple RBI in a pair of contests to help the Tigers win three games, including its third straight SEC series for the first time since 2017.
The senior slugger led the league in total bases (18), while tying for the league lead in homers (three) and tying for third in RBI (eight). DiChiara collected three extra-base hits, including the ninth multi-homer game of his career, and drove in a season-high five runs in the series-clinching win against No. 12 Vanderbilt.
Through eight weeks this season, the Hoover, Alabama, native leads the country in average (.452), on-base percentage (.595) and slugging percentage (.946) and leads the Tigers in doubles (13), homers (11) and RBI (32).
Gonzalez turned in the team's first SEC complete game since Casey Mize in 2018 and the second by an SEC pitcher in league play in the series-clinching win against the Commodores.
The Puerto Rican righty matched a career high with eight strikeouts and didn't issue a walk in his second straight quality start in SEC play. Gonzalez faced the minimum in four innings of work and didn't allow two baserunners at the same time until there were two outs in the ninth inning. He threw 81 of his 104 pitches for strikes.
In seven appearances and six starts, Gonzalez leads Auburn with a 4-0 record and 1.95 ERA. He's 2-0 with a 2.40 ERA in a pair of SEC starts.
DiChiara, Gonzalez earn SEC weekly honors
