Roommate Tandem Doyle, Fischer Came to Ole Miss For Games Like Saturday
OXFORD, Miss. – Team chemistry is one thing, but roommate chemistry is on a different level. Just ask Ole Miss Rebels Liam Doyle and Andrew Fischer.
Doyle earned the start on the mound for Ole Miss on Saturday, throwing 5.1 innings of six-hit, three-run ball and fanning 10 batters in the process. Although he was tabbed for two home runs in the game, he was able to largely keep the South Carolina Gamecocks at bay, and he was credited with the win in the 12-3 final score.
Fischer routinely holds down the hot corner for Mike Bianco's squad, but the Rebel third baseman made his presence felt at the plate on Saturday, leading the team in RBIs (5) and hitting three home runs in a 3-for-5 day.
Ole Miss Rebels Andrew Fischer (left) and Liam Doyle against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday
Ole Miss Athletics
After the game, Fischer commented that days like Saturday are the reason players decide to come to Ole Miss and compete in the SEC. With he and Doyle both transferring to Oxford last offseason from Duke and Coastal Carolina, respectively, this level of competition was a deciding factor in their decisions.
"For sure," Fischer said. "Obviously any game in the SEC is fun to play in, but a game like this where you've got a chance to take the series against a good team, and we went out there and did that today. That's why you want to be here, the crowd was awesome, and it's obviously fun to win."
"It was fun today," Doyle said. "Good crowd, good energy. Filled up the zone, felt really fun. Good to get back out there before going to Knoxville next weekend to take on [Tennessee] too."
Doyle is now 2-0 in decisions awarded to him this season, and he seems to be settling in nicely to the Saturday starter role. He admittedly wasn't perfect in Game 2 against Carolina, but his competitiveness can't be denied.
"[I felt] pretty good," Doyle said. "Wanted to finish that sixth inning. Got to be able to do that as a starter. A lot of strikes thrown, a lot of weak contact here and there. A few base hits and a few home runs I gave up that I missed spots. Got to be better there, but felt really good today. Felt confident."
It also helps the confidence level when your roommate takes care of business on offense. Every time South Carolina threw a punch on Saturday, it seemed that Fischer was there to respond, giving Doyle the motivation to continue filling up the zone.
"That's my roommate, one of my best friends," Doyle said of Fischer. "He's awesome. Really swinging the bat well recently. Got to keep him hot. A few more home runs tomorrow wouldn't hurt."
The Rebels look to sweep the opening series of conference play on Sunday when they finish things up with the Gamecocks. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised on SEC Network+.