Loyola hires new women’s basketball coach:

Loyola has hired Kate Achter as its women’s basketball coach.

The university announced the hiring Tuesday. Achter served as an assistant at Xavier last season and was the team’s recruiting coordinator. Before that, she was an assistant at St. Bonaventure for five years. The 30-year old replaces Sheryl Swoopes, who was let go on July 3 following a 2½-month investigation into allegations that she mistreated players. Many of Loyola’s players have left the program over the past two years, while Swoopes has gone 31-62 since being hired in 2013. Achter starred at Bowling Green, graduating in 2008. She helped the Falcons win four straight Mid-American Conference titles and make three NCAA Tournament appearances during her playing career, highlighted by a Sweet 16 berth in 2007.

Kershaw’s return uncertain:

WASHINGTON — Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw won’t pitch this week against Washington because of nagging back pain. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says Kershaw will not come off the disabled list for the three-game set that began Tuesday night. It’s still uncertain when the three-time NL Cy Young Award winner will be activated. The left-hander has been out since June 27 because of mild disk herniation. He felt discomfort after a throwing session on Saturday.

Lesnar’s second sample tests positive, UFC says

LAS VEGAS — The UFC says heavyweight Brock Lesnar failed a second doping test in a sample taken on the night of his victory over Mark Hunt at UFC 200. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency notified Lesnar last week about his first potential violation of the UFC’s policy from an out-of-competition test last month. The UFC says Lesnar tested positive for the same unnamed substance in both tests. The 39-year-old Lesnar declined to comment Tuesday on the UFC’s disclosure of his second positive test.

Ortiz slugs 3-run homer to lead Red Sox over Giants:

BOSTON — David Ortiz hit a 3-run homer and Rick Porcello remained unbeaten at home as the Boston Red Sox beat the struggling San Francisco Giants 4-0 on Tuesday night. Brock Holt also homered for the Red Sox, who won for the seventh time in eight games despite a strong start by former teammate Jake Peavy. San Francisco remained winless since the All-Star break with its fourth straight loss. The Giants had just five hits and only three runners advanced beyond first base.

Pirates pitcher stays in game after being hit in head:

PITTSBURGH — Pirates rookie pitcher Jameson Taillon was struck in the head by a line drive but remained in the game on Tuesday night. Milwaukee’s Hernan Perez hit a 105 mph line drive off the back of Taillon’s head with one out in the second inning. Taillon lay in front of the pitcher’s mound for several minutes while being tended to by trainers, then remarkably opted to stay in the game. Taillon was making his return to Pittsburgh’s lineup after being placed on the disabled list late last month with right shoulder fatigue. The second overall pick in the 2010 draft entered the game 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA in five starts this season.

Big 12 mulling expansion:

The Big 12 is accepting resumes from expansion candidates. The smallest Power Five conference took a significant step toward adding members Tuesday when its university presidents directed Commissioner Bob Bowlsby to begin evaluating schools interested in joining. Oklahoma President David Boren said the board of directors voted unanimously during a meeting Tuesday in Dallas that coincided with football media days to take another step toward adding to the 10-member league, but they stopped just short of committing to future expansion. “I think it’s a statement from the board that we want to move forward,” Boren said. “We’ve had discussion of the attributes of some of those schools that have come to us and expressed interest. And that we want to move forward and have a full evaluation of exactly the level of their interest, what kind of proposals they might make to us in terms of terms and conditions for joining the conference. When the conference ultimately makes a decision and how many schools it might add are still up in the air, Boren said.

Baylor players heartbroken after Pepper Hamilton report:

DALLAS — Baylor quarterback Seth Russell was on a mission trip in Brazil with other athletes from the private Baptist school when he got the text message from Art Briles saying he was no longer their football coach. “Felt like I was helpless, like a lot of people felt,” Russell said Tuesday at Big 12 football media days. Russell described it as a “punch in the gut” when hearing what came out in the wake of Briles’ departure after winning two Big 12 titles at the school. An independent review by the Pepper Hamilton law firm found that football coaches and staff interfered with investigations into sexual assault complaints against players, and even impeded potential criminal proceedings. The firm released a 13-page report May 26, the same day Briles was immediately suspended before reaching a mutual agreement with the school for his departure about a month later.

Bandits surge past Charge:

Taylor Edwards popped a team-leading sixth home run of the season, a

3-run shot to left to lead the Chicago Bandits past the Dallas Charge 9-1 on Tuesday night. The Bandits are now riding a 3-game winning streak after taking two of three on the road from the league-leading USSSA Pride in their last series.

Weather washes out Boomers:

The Schaumburg Boomers were postponed due to impending weather in Normal on Tuesday night. The teams will play a doubleheader today starting at 5:35 p.m.