Sports

Texas Tech Softball Player Can’t Shake Hands With Former Team After Poor Display Of Sportsmanship

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ESPN


The Texas Tech softball team is headed to the Women’s College World Series. The Red Raiders took down Florida in the Super Regionals to advance to Oklahoma City.

The series was testy throughout with Game 3 deciding each team’s fate. Texas Tech transfer Mia Williams was at the center of the drama.

Williams left Florida in the offseason to play for the Red Raiders. She then helped eliminate her former team in her old ballpark.

Texas Tech softball is WCWS bound.

The Red Raiders swept through a Regional in Lubbock to advance to the Supers. They then had to travel to Gainesville to face the Gators.

Texas Tech won Game 1 by a score of 10-8. Williams launched a two-run homer in the top of the seventh to break an 8-8 tie.

Florida bounced back with a 10-2 win in Game 2 before dropping the rubber match 16-7.

With the loss, the Gators’ season ended. Their former star did the majority of the damage in the series. Williams hit .428 over the weekend with two homers and five RBIs. She was also hit by five pitches.

While it didn’t seem intentional, it didn’t necessarily sit well with the Red Raiders.

Shouting from the TTU dugout was seen after the fifth and final HBP.  Williams would respond positively.

After coming around to score in that first inning, she’d homer in her next at-bat to give her team a 5-4 lead. From there, it was all Texas Tech.

The Red Raiders outscored the Gators 9-0 over the final three innings, which would prove to be the difference in the contest. Texas Tech secured a trip to the Women’s College World Series. Florida’s season ended.

Neither team shook hands at game’s end.

Both teams displayed poor sportsmanship.

Much of it seemed to center around Mia Williams, whose father starred on the Gators basketball team in the late 1990s. Jason Williams was on hand for the softball series. He dropped his Florida affiliation to root for his daughter.

Here he is below mocking the Gators with a chomp from the stands.

Tensions were high, particularly in Game 3. Both sides chirped. Florida’s coach was ejected. The home crowd let Mia Williams hear it at each and every opportunity. The Red Raiders gave it right back.

Unfortunately, it created a somewhat ugly scene that overshadowed a great series.

Crowd members were heated watching the Gators’ season end in blowout fashion at home. Jason Williams was reportedly involved in an altercation that led to the dismissal of a Florida fan.

Williams’ family believes Florida forced the transfer. She left on bad terms. Her mom confirmed those feeling with a post online.

Those emotions were embraced by the Red Raiders. They made it their job to support a teammate, though teammates might’ve crossed the line.

Texas Tech would wind up celebrating its decisive win by taunting the opposing fanbase from the infield. All in all, it was a poor display of sportsmanship on both sides.

As a result of the emotional contest, postgame handshakes were called off. Florida never lined up for the sendoff. Mia Williams was not congratulated by her former teammates.

Instead, she celebrated in her old stomping grounds with her new team.

Texas Tech will advance to the Women’s College World Series where it will open with Mississippi State.