Florida softball coach Tim Walton was ejected in the fifth inning of the Gators’ 16-7 loss to Texas Tech on May 24. A former Florida standout, NBA and Gators point guard Jason Williams, said the ejection came after Walton tried to dodge a postgame handshake wi
The dream of a Women’s College World Series berth was already slipping away when Florida softball coach Tim Walton walked out after the fifth inning of the Gators’ 16-7 loss to Texas Tech.
The game itself was on the line in the final matchup of the Gainesville Super Regional on Sunday, May 24. With Florida trailing, Walton was ejected in the fifth inning after an argument over balls and strikes. For Jason Williams, it was the kind of moment that looked less like a disagreement and more like a decision.
Jason Williams. a former NBA and Gators point guard. said Walton’s ejection may have been intentional—meant to prevent him from shaking hands with his daughter. Mia Williams. a standout Texas Tech infielder who transferred from Florida last offseason. “He got kicked out because he didn’t want to shake her hand. ” Williams told the Gainesville Sun. a part of the USA TODAY Network.
Mia Williams’ path fed the tension well before that final game. After playing at Florida for two seasons—including appearing in all 65 games last season as the Gators advanced to the WCWS—she transferred to Texas Tech. The Red Raiders were coming off a run that reached the championship series of the WCWS. and they’ve drawn attention in recent years as a destination for high-profile transfers.
That background hung over the best-of-three super regional series between the Gators and Red Raiders.
In the series. Williams was hit by five pitches—starting with the first pitch she saw in the first game and again with the first pitch of the decisive third game. In Game 3. her second at-bat became the swing moment: she launched a two-run home run that gave Texas Tech a 5-4 lead. The Red Raiders celebrated, and the umpire issued a warning.
Despite the pitch-by-pitch turmoil around her, Mia Williams ultimately delivered at the plate. She finished the series 3-of-7 with five RBI.
Her father’s reactions showed how personal the stakes felt. After a Texas Tech homer, he was seen in the crowd yelling toward Florida’s dugout and doing the gator chomp. After Texas Tech’s Game 3 victory, he celebrated with the team on the field at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
When the series ended, the handshake line never happened.
Walton didn’t frame the moment as a plot. When asked about the drama after Texas Tech’s series-clinching win. he said. “It makes no sense to me at all.” He added. “I have no idea where that came from. I don’t think that’s fair to the kids in both dugouts. I have no idea where that pot was being stirred. There’s never been a problem ever. Kids transfer all the time.”.
In her first season at Texas Tech. Mia Williams has already set program single-season records for home runs (24). runs scored (86). total bases (177). RBI (82). and doubles (22). For both programs, the numbers may be what linger on the scoreboard. For the handshake debate that followed the series. the images of Walton’s ejection and Mia Williams’ father in the stands are the ones that keep resurfacing.
Florida softball Tim Walton Texas Tech softball Mia Williams Jason Williams Super Regional Women’s College World Series ejected handshake drama NCAA softball
So he got ejected just to avoid a handshake?? That seems petty.
I read something like “avoiding shaking hands with his daughter” and honestly… I don’t even blame him? Like if it’s awkward, just walk away. But still, ejected??
Wait I’m confused—was this Mia Williams like his daughter? Or just the transfer player? The article says former NBA Jason Williams and I thought that was the coach’s kid? Either way, balls and strikes arguments always get people heated.
How is it even possible to “dodge” a handshake and get kicked out in the 5th?? Like I feel like there’s missing context, because I swear refs don’t just boot coaches for that. Also the score being 16-7 and all the transfer stuff… yeah it sounds like drama from both sides. Mia transferring from Florida like last year too, so of course it’s gonna be tense, but the handshake thing sounds like a made-up story from the paper.