NCAA, UA Release Statements Surrounding Alabama Baseball Gambling Situation

Sportsbooks in Ohio shut down any bets involving the Crimson Tide after suspicious activity before Friday night's game against No. 1 LSU.

© Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Alabama Baseball program is under potential scrutiny again.

A few weeks after a former player opened a lawsuit against three members of the coaching staff, including head coach Brad Bohannon, the Crimson Tide is amidst another potential scandal.

Before Friday night's game at No. 1 LSU, there was suspicious activity stemming from large wagers placed at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati.

Matthew T. Schuler, the executive director of the Ohio Casino Control Commission, issued a directive banning "the acceptance of any wagers on University of Alabama baseball effective immediately."

Since Ohio legalized sports betting in January, there has been no such situation.

Ohio defines suspicious sports gaming activity as "unusual sports gaming activity that cannot be explained and is indicative of any of the following: match fixing, the manipulation of a sport, misuse of inside information, a potential breach of a sports governing body's internal rules or code of conduct pertaining to sports gaming, any other conduct that corrupts the outcome of a sport, and any other prohibited activity."

Alabama RHP Luke Holman was scratched from starting around an hour before the game began — a potential explanation for the large bets placed on the Tigers.

"The NCAA takes sports wagering very seriously and is committed to the protection of student-athlete well-being and the integrity of competition," the organization said Tuesday. "We are aware of this issue and actively gathering additional information."

"Alabama Athletics became aware of this situation Monday evening and is actively seeking information about the report," a UA spokesperson said Tuesday evening.

As of Wednesday afternoon, New Jersey has joined Ohio in banning Alabama Baseball bets from its sportsbooks.

The Crimson Tide (30-15, 9-12 SEC) takes on No. 5 Vanderbilt (32-11, 16-5 SEC) this weekend in Tuscaloosa.

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