NCAA SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES : Garman Brings Titans Back After Seven Years

She has won 774 softball games at Cal State Fullerton, but that fact was incidental to Judi Garman, who is relieved just to have coached the Titans to another Women’s College World Series appearance after a seven-year absence.

“I just couldn’t understand it. I was questioning myself, ‘Why? Why can’t I win [a regional]?’ ” Garman said.

Now that she has, the Titans have joined second-seeded UCLA (46-6), winner of an unprecedented eight national titles, in the event at Hall of Fame Stadium.

Fifth-seeded Fullerton (45-15) will face Big West Conference rival and No. 4 UNLV (47-12) in a first-round game today at 12:30 p.m. (PDT). The Bruins will play No. 7 Iowa (39-24-1) in the late game tonight at 6:30.

For the past seven seasons, Fullerton, a perennial top-20 team, finished second in the region. Because of the school’s proximity to other powerhouses, Fullerton had to play regional championship games against UCLA in 1988 and ‘93, and against Cal State Northridge in ’94. In each of those years, the team that Fullerton faced in the regional won the national title or finished second.