Fullerton’s Garman Becomes Winningest Softball Coach at Four-Year College

Cal State Fullerton’s Judi Garman became the winningest four-year college softball coach Sunday, when the Titans beat Oregon, 2-1, in the Coca-Cola Classic at Arizona State.

Garman, in her 19th season at Cal State Fullerton, passed UCLA’s Sharron Backus, who retired after last season. Garman has an all-time mark of 848-321. Fullerton won a national championship in 1986, finished second three times and third twice under Garman.

Fullerton, which also lost to Arizona State, 3-1, Sunday, has qualified for post-season play 17 times in 18 seasons under Garman.

In nonconference baseball:

Cal State Fullerton 15, Fresno State 1--David Bacani had a grand slam and drove in five runs as the Titans (6-3) completed the sweep in Fresno.

It was the second time in three seasons that Fullerton has won all three games in a series against the Bulldogs. Fullerton also did it in 1996 in Fresno. The teams split two games last year.

Bacani’s grand slam came in the fifth. Steve Chatham and Craig Patterson singled and Ryan Owens walked to load the bases before Bacani hit his first homer of the season. It put Fullerton ahead, 11-1.

Reed Johnson had a home run and drove in three runs and Kevin Duck, a transfer from Santa Ana College, had an inside-the-park homer for the Titans. Duck, Johnson, Chatham and Bacani each had two hits for Fullerton, which had 15.

Benito Flores pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up four hits and a run for the victory. Flores, who struck out seven, is 1-0.

Earlier Sunday, Jordan DeJong pitched a perfect ninth inning as Fullerton completed an 11-4 victory over Fresno State. The teams played eight innings Saturday before a rain storm caused the game to be suspended in the eighth inning with Fullerton ahead, 11-4.