Andrew Fischer issues challenge to Tennessee fans after winning Knoxville Regional

For the fifth consecutive season, the Tennessee Volunteers are headed to a Super Regional.

The ‘Vols trailed Wake Forest 2-1 early in Monday night’s Knoxville Regional Final, but a seven-run fourth inning capped off by an Andrew Fischer two-run home run propelled Tennessee to an insurmountable 8-2 lead.

Fischer, who transferred to Tennessee from Ole Miss for his junior season of college baseball, has started and played in all 63 games this season. He discussed the crowd at Lindsey Nelson Stadium following the win.

“I was definitely pleased with the crowd tonight,” Fischer said postgame. “Like coach [Tony Vitello] said, it was a different kind of atmosphere. Obviously there’s only nine guys out there on the field but like coach said, we’ve got 50 guys willing to put anything on the line to win that game. Guys willing to risk whatever’s happening with their arm or whatever or they’re not supposed to be out there in that spot but we’ve got 50 guys that are literally the definition of what the sign says up here… ‘I’ll give my all for Tennessee.”

After winning its first two games of the Knoxville Regional, Tennessee lost to Wake Forest 7-6 Sunday night to force the winner-take-all Regional Final on Monday. Volunteer right-handed pitcher Nate Snead walked the leadoff batter, allowed back-to-back singles and then walked Demon Deacon first baseman Jack Winnay on four pitches to lose the game.

“The crowd should be like that every single time…”

“I was just happy the way the crowd showed up and was behind us,” Fischer continued. “It really swung some of our momentum and obviously these guys deserve, whether we play here again or not, moving forward for the next season, the season after that… the crowd should be like that every single time. We work too hard for that to not be the case.”

In his lone season in Knoxville, Fischer belted 24 home runs (tied for fourth most in NCAA). He also boasts a .343 batting average (third on team), belted 16 doubles (second on team) and drove in 64 RBI (first on team). His presence has been major for a Tennessee team looking to become the first team to win back-to-back College World Series’ since South Carolina in 2010 and 2011.

Following its fifth consecutive Regional victory, Tennessee will clash with SEC rival Arkansas in the Fayetteville Super Regional. The Super Regional opener between the ‘Vols and Razorbacks is scheduled for Saturday at 5:00 pm EST (ESPN).