When Mia Williams doubled in her first RBI of the game, her family was outside Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium trying to clear things up with University of Florida Police Officers after briefly getting kicked out of Friday’s Super Regional game.
Ultimately, the Williams family, including Mia’s father and former Florida basketball and NBA star Jason Williams, was allowed to reenter KSP. A Florida fan, who allegedly hit Williams’ other daughter with a handheld fan, was removed from the game instead.
That allowed the family to witness Williams don a cape and deliver a moment for the ages three innings later.
The junior belted the go-ahead home run in the seventh to give Texas Tech the 10-8 lead that it kept in the Game 1 win over Florida softball.
“It was super satisfying. The job’s not done yet, still have to play some more games, but going up there and sticking to my plan and doing what I needed to do for my team,” Williams said.
Williams, a second team All-American in 2025, transferred from UF to Texas Tech last June in what can be described as an air of controversy.
She downplayed the “homecoming” aspect at Thursday’s press conference, but Red Raiders head coach Gerry Glasco knew Williams still felt pressure and a whirlwind of emotions at a stadium where she created so many memories but is now hostile.
“I knew it would be a series where some athletes would let the emotions get to them, but I feel like she’s made for this moment,” Glasco said. “She’s a fierce competitor. She wanted to be at the top of the lineup.”
The Williams family will be back at KSP Saturday, where Mia will look to reach the Women’s College World Series for the third year in a row.
“They don’t come to Lubbock a lot because it’s hard to get to from Orlando, so having them here is amazing,” Williams said of her family. “I love seeing them.”
Noah Ram covers Florida Gators athletics and Gainesville-area high school sports for The Gainesville Sun, GatorSports.com and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at nram@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @Noah_ram1 and on Instagram @Ramreporter.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Inside Mia Williams’ storybook performance for Texas Tech vs Florida softball
Reporting by Noah Ram, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
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