Auburn baseball notebook - Apr. 3

Auburn baseball notebook - Apr. 3Auburn baseball notebook - Apr. 3
Elaina Eichorn/AU Athletics

WEEK AT A GLANCE
Overall: 19-9
Last Week: 2-2
SEC: 5-4
Non-Conference: 14-5
Streak: W1

Last Week's Results:
Tuesday – vs. Jacksonville State: L, 2-5
Thursday – at No. 12 LSU: W, 6-5
Friday – at No. 12 LSU: L, 2-9
Saturday – at No. 12 LSU: W, 6-4

This Week's Schedule:
Tuesday – at UAB in Regions Field (6 p.m.)
Friday – vs. No. 5 Vanderbilt (6 p.m.)
Saturday – vs. No. 5 Vanderbilt (4 p.m.)
Sunday – vs. No. 5 Vanderbilt (1 p.m.)
 OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sonny DiChiara – Sr. – 1B – Hoover, Ala.

4 GP/GS, .500/.650/.857, 7-for-14, 2 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 6 BB

  • Led the team with seven hits, including five in the series at No. 12 LSU, and 12 total bases during the week.
  • Reached base in 13 of 20 plate appearances, including at least three times in all four games.
  • Went 2-for-4 in the midweek against Jacksonville State, marking his 10th multi-hit game of the season.
  • Collected a season-high four hits with a double, homer and three RBI in the decisive game three in Baton Rouge.

Blake Rambusch – R-Jr. – 3B – Austin, Texas

4 GP/GS, .313/.368/.375, 5-for-16, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 2-2 SB,

  • Completed his 17-game hitting streak with multiple hits in each of the first two games at No. 12 LSU.
  • His 17-game hitting streak was the longest by an Auburn player since 2016.
  • His two hits in Saturday's contest marked his 15th multi-hit game of the season, including his ninth in the last 11 and 12th in the last 16 games.
  • Has reached base in 26 straight games, continuing a stretch of reaching in 85 of the last 86 games dating back to the final 13 games of his freshman season at Grayson College in 2019.

 

PITCHERS OF THE WEEK
Joseph Gonzalez – So. – RHP – Humacao, P.R.

2 APP, 1-0, 3.52 ERA, 7.2 IP, 9 H, 3 R/3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

  • Made his first start in three weekends and earned the win in the decisive game three at No. 12 LSU.
  • Held the Tigers to three runs while scattering nine hits in 6.0 innings, his second longest outing of the season and his career.
  • Made his first relief appearance of the season and retired all five batters he faced against Jacksonville State, needing just 13 pitches to do so.

Blake Burkhalter – Jr. – RHP – Dothan, Ala.

2 APP, 0-0, 2 SV, 4.15 ERA, 4.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R/2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K

  • Earned the save in each of Auburn's two wins at No. 12 LSU, marking his fifth and sixth saves of the season, two more than any other pitcher in the SEC this season.
  • Has earned a win or save in nine of his first 12 appearances of the year.
  • Stranded the bases loaded to preserve a 4-3 lead in the seventh inning of Saturday's finale in Baton Rouge.
  • Ultimately matched a season and career high 2.2 innings in the decisive game three.

 

TEAM NOTES
Auburn's road win at No. 12 LSU marked the team's first series win in Baton Rouge since 2011 … it also marked the first road series win against a top-15 opponent since beating No. 7 Mississippi State in two out of three in 2017 … dating back to last season, Auburn has now won four straight SEC road series … it marks the first time Auburn has won four straight SEC road series since 1997-98 … the Tigers have won the first two SEC road series for the first time since 2009 … the team is now 8-3 in games away from Plainsman Park … the eight wins and .727 winning percentage are the second most in the SEC this season … Auburn's 6-5 win in Thursday's series opener at LSU marked the team's sixth one-run win … the six one-run wins match the team's total from 2021 … Thursday's win was also the team's 11th win when trailing at some point in a game this season … the Tigers are now 4-3 against ranked opponents this season, including 3-1 against ranked opponents on the road … Auburn didn't win its fifth SEC game until May 1 a season ago … entering Sunday, DiChiara continued to lead the SEC in batting average (.461), on-base percentage (.616) and slugging percentage (.921) … he is also tied for second in the league in double (11), tied for fifth in total bases (70) and tied for sixth in home runs (8) … Rambusch continued to lead the league in hits (45) and is sixth in batting average (.388) … his 17-game hitting streak from Mar. 5-Apr. 1 was the longest since Anfernee Grier went on a 22-game hitting streak from May 31, 2015-Mar. 22, 2016 … Burkhalter lead the league by two with six saves and is tied for the league lead with three in SEC play … the Tigers continue to lead the league in hits (98) and doubles (21) in league games.