Afternoon Sports Briefs: Greinke hopes to improve record against the White Sox

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CHICAGO - Zack Greinke will work to better his record on the road as he pitches against Chicago White Sox's Chris Sale tonight. This will mark Sale's first meeting with the Brewers.

The Sox have bested the Brewers in eight of their last nine outings. Meanwhile the Brewers have recalled right-hander Mike McClendon to the pull pen. He's pitched in four games so far this season. He replaces Tyler Thornburg, who was sent to AAA Nashville on Wednesday.

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Construction is now underway at the University of Wisconsin for a new Badgers indoor softball training facility. The $2.3 million project is being funded by private donations. Athletic Director Barry Alvarez, softball head coach Yvette Healy and Goodman Foundation representatives held a groundbreaking ceremony this morning. The facility's name is the Irwin A. and Robert D. Goodman Softball Training Center. Goodman Executive Director E.G. Schramka says the facility will keep the team competitive in the Big Ten and nationally.

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As many as 1,500 people were in the stands for the first day weigh in at La Crosse's Bassmaster Elite Series Mississippi River Rumble. Kyle Fox of Lakeland tops the leader board with five catches that weighed in at 16 pounds, 8 ounces. Just 3 ounces behind is Alabama native Aaron Martens. 98 anglers started the day today; by tomorrow that number will be cut to 12. The winner will be awarded a $100,000 prize on Sunday.

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Rhinelander native Dan Forsman is in Quebec for the PGA Champion's Tour. He's part of the field for the 3 round Montreal Championship. Forsman is 3 under par after round one, just one off the current leader, Jerry Pate. Forsman has one win and another top 10 in 20 events on the Champions Tour for 2012.

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Wisconsin Badgers volleyball is losing their top recruit to Big Ten Rival Nebraska. Meghan Haggerty, a 6’3 middle blocker from the Chicago area committed to the Huskers last week, after signing a letter of intent with Wisconsin in November. At Nebraska, she could eventually play with her younger sister, Maddie Haggerty, an outside hitter who committed to Nebraska on April 30 and is a top recruit in the 2014 class.

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The Big Ten league presidents have voted to keep the current BCS format in place with the support of Wisconsin and the rest of the Big Ten. If changes are made they want the plus one format, which pits two teams for the national championship game after all the bowls have been played. Earlier this week Notre Dame and the BCS conference commissioners pushed for a four team playoff. NU Chancellor Harvey Pearlman, who represents the Big Ten, will have to be convinced that’s the best option. He’s on the presidential oversight committee which meets June 26th in Washington D.C to approve postseason plans for Division I football.

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The U.S. Olympic track and field trials begin today in Eugene, Oregon. Among those competing are some University of Wisconsin athletes, alumni and coaches. One of the highest ranked hopefuls is Alicia DeShasier, a favorite in the javelin. She sits as fourth seed going into the trials. Her qualifying session will held on June 29, with the finals held the following day. Also in fourth seed is Tim Nelson in the men's 10,000 meter. The senior track star captured a national title earlier in the year. His qualifying trial is today.

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The Nationwide series comes to the 4 mile road course Road America in Elkhart Lake tomorrow for the Sargento 200. Beloit born Danica Patrick goes into the race at 11th in the points standings. She's finished outside of the top 15 in her last four races. She's hoping for a top five at Elkhart. Tim Schendel of Sparta and Bill Prietzel of Richfield are also driving. Practice begins today at noon.

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