Mirin Fader of the Orange County Register focused on junior infielder Taylor Bryant this week and his incredible return from injury. The La Quinta, Calif. native practically leads the Titans in every offensive category and has helped lead Cal State Fullerton to a season-high eight-game win streak.
By Mirin Fader | Read the Full Story
The Titans trailed by one run, 4-3, to New Mexico on Saturday night with one out in the bottom of the eighth. Fullerton, whose five-game win streak was in jeopardy, had clawed back from an early three-run deficit, thanks to stellar bullpen play.
But the Titans (14-5) were running out of time, down to their last five outs.
Then Scott Hurst, the second Titan to bat in the bottom of the eighth, was hit by a pitch.
Taylor Bryant, a 6-foot redshirt junior infielder, doubled to left field to score Hurst all the way from first, knotting the game, 4-4.
But Bryant wasn't done.
The next batter, Hank LoForte, struck out, but the catcher dropped the third strike and was forced to throw the batter out at first. Bryant made the heads up play to advance to third.
With two outs and the game tied, the next batter, Sahid Valenzuela, hit a two-strike pitch through the left side of the infield, easily scoring Bryant, giving Fullerton a 5-4 victory.
Bryant, who went 1-for-3 with a hit, two runs scored, an RBI and a walk, is playing the best ball of his career. He's hit safely in 15 of the last 17 games and he's scored in 10 of the last 13.
Bryant wasn't sure if he'd even suit up for the Titans this season. At one point, he wasn't even sure if he'd be alive.
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