NCAA Suspends 3 Nebraska Players For Trading Bats For Gifts

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- The NCAA has suspended three Nebraska baseball players for trading bats for store credit.<br/><br/>The Nebraska athletic department announced Friday that outfielder Andy Gerch will

Friday, August 24th 2007, 6:57 pm

By: News On 6

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- The NCAA has suspended three Nebraska baseball players for trading bats for store credit.

The Nebraska athletic department announced Friday that outfielder Andy Gerch will be suspended the first 12 games of 2008, while catcher Jeff Lanning and utility man Craig Corriston will miss the first six games of the season under the NCAA's suspensions.

Infielder Jeff Tezak, the team's leading hitter, also received vouchers but was not suspended because they were worth less than $100, the athletic department said.

Lanning transferred to the University of New Orleans and will serve the suspension there, the athletic department said.

Gary Bargen, the university's compliance director, said the suspensions were based on the value of the benefits received.

Nebraska coach Mike Anderson said in a release that he will consider further discipline for the players.

"I'm very disappointed that these secondary violations occurred," Anderson said. "This is not indicative of Nebraska athletics."

Tezak, Corriston and Gerch were everyday starters for the Cornhuskers last season. Lanning started 18 games.