UNLV softball team surges in ninth, splits doubleheader with Boise State

UNLV split a Mountain West softball doubleheader with Boise State, losing the first game 8-0 in five innings and winning the second 4-3 in nine innings, in Boise, Idaho. Sydney Groves hit a three-run homer in a seven-run first inning for the Broncos (24-15, 4-4) in the opener, when Sofia Morales’ two singles accounted for all the hits for the Rebels (22-11, 7-3). Ariana Martinez went 3-for-5 with two RBI singles in Game 2, including a bases-loaded hit that plated the decisive run in the ninth. UNLV had a 13-4 edge in hits in Game 2.

■ Colleges: The American Athletic Conference hired former Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti as commissioner to replace the retiring Mike Aresco. Pernetti, 53, who will take over in June, is the president of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, a college preparatory school for elite athletes. He was Rutgers’ AD from 2009 to ’13.

■ NBA: Steve Clifford will step down as Charlotte’s coach after the season and plans to remain with the team in an advisory role. The 62-year-old is 45-112 in two seasons of his second stint as the Hornets’ coach. He is 337-457 in parts of 10 NBA seasons, primarily with Charlotte.

■ Tennis: The ATP tour will try to spice up doubles by trialing changes including a 15-second serve clock and reserving slots for teams to enter tournaments using their singles rankings. The format will be tested at this month’s Madrid Open and other events this season.

■ Boxing: The International Olympic Committee said it needs to find a suitable new international boxing body by early next year or else risk boxing dropping out of the Olympics for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

From staff and wire reports