This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Florida softball coach Tim Walton was involved in an altercation with Auburn shortstop Haley Fagan after Walton gave Fagan a slight push during postgame handshakes.

After the Tigers beat Florida 1-0 on Monday night, Fagan didn’t shake Walton’s hand. The coach lightly shoved her in the shoulder with his right hand. Fagan pushed Walton back, and the two exchanged words. A scrum broke out around them, and a yelling Fagan and the coach were separated.

Sports Illustrated (@SInow) Auburn senior Haley Fagan has two sisters who were dismissed from Florida's team by coach Tim Walton https://t.co/ssPEyMj9F9 pic.twitter.com/KmIua78xn7

There’s history between the coach and Fagan’s sisters. Kasey and Sami Fagan both played for Walton at Florida but were dismissed from the team in 2012. Kasey is now a graduate assistant with the Auburn softball team.

Walton issued an apology on Tuesday. “My intent was to give a high-five to each opposing player as we do after every game,” he said in team statement on Twitter. “Apparently her hand wasn’t up as I said ‘good game’ and I touched her shoulder. I should have paid closer attention and did not intend to upset her.”

Florida is the top-ranked team in the country, according to the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll. The Tigers rank sixth.