Iowa Gaming Commission Probes Hawkeyes Baseball Suspensions

An investigation has been launched into the Hawkeyes baseball program.

The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is reportedly launching an investigation into the University of Iowa baseball team in regard to the suspension of multiple players ahead of the program’s recent series against Ohio State, according to Darren Rovell of the Action Network.

The school’s athletic department released a statement Friday, which read, “Due to a potential NCAA violation, we withheld some student-athletes from competition. We will have no additional comments as this is an ongoing investigation.”

Per Kyle Huesmann of On3, as many as four players were unavailable for Iowa’s series against the Buckeyes, including star infielder Keaton Anthony, pitcher Jacob Henderson, catcher Ben Tallman and redshirt freshman Gehrig Christensen. 

The investigation into Iowa’s baseball program comes just days after Alabama was hit with a gambling-related scandal. The Crimson Tide baseball program fired head coach Brad Bohannon after it was revealed he was involved in potentially suspicious sports gambling activity ahead of a series against LSU.

Bohannon was reportedly on the phone with a sports bettor in Ohio at the same time he made the decision to scratch star pitcher Luke Holman and replace him with Hagan Banks for one of their games against LSU, which the Tide lost 8-6. Banks reportedly found out roughly an hour before first pitch that he’d be starting.

Multiple states instructed sportsbooks to halt wagers involving the Alabama baseball program as a result of suspected malfeasance. 

The Hawkeyes won two of three games against Ohio State over the weekend, improving their season record to 34-12.