OMAHA, Neb. — Mississippi State Athletic Director John Cohen condemned the use of racial slurs some Bulldog fans directed toward the parents of Vanderbilt baseball players during Monday’s Game 1 of the College World Series final in Omaha.

Cohen’s statement came on the heels of Vanderbilt Athletic Director Candice Storey Lee tweeting about the incidents.

“We join Vanderbilt in declaring such behavior unacceptable and in direct conflict with the values of both institutions and our fan bases,” Cohen said in a statement Tuesday afternoon. “The College World Series serves as a celebration of college baseball. Highly inappropriate events must neither be tolerated nor allowed to detract from the on-the-field accomplishments of the student-athletes and their teams who have earned the right to participate on this national stage.”

Clinton Yates of The Undefeated first reported the allegations, saying Bulldogs fans directed the N-word at the parents of Black players toward the end of the contest. The Associated Press reported that those who used the language left the stadium after security was notified, though it was unclear whether they were ejected.

Lee tweeted Tuesday morning that multiple parents had been subjected to the slurs.

“This is absolutely unacceptable and disgraceful behavior, and such hateful language has no place anywhere in our society,” Lee said.

Vanderbilt has eight Black players on its 2021 roster, including pitchers Kumar Rocker and Christian Little and outfielders Enrique Bradfield Jr. and Isaiah Thomas.

The Commodores beat Mississippi State 8-2 in Game 1 on Monday.

Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.