No. 2 OU softball head coach Patty Gasso spoke to the media as the Sooners (38-3, 11-1 SEC) prepare to face No. 4 Texas (32-4, 9-3 SEC) in Austin on Friday.

Here are takeaways:

Sooners face top-five road test at Texas

After their series sweep of Kentucky, OU is set for a rematch with Texas after they defeated the Sooners 4-2 in the Women’s College World Series last year, handing OU their earliest WCWS defeat since 2021.

OU swept Texas in last season’s regular-season series, winning 7-6, 7-2 and 9-8 before falling to the Longhorns in their rematch in the WCWS.

“This is really important to me to see how tough we are. This is not an easy environment, and this will be the toughest place we have played,” said Gasso

Junior utility player Ella Parker echoed the significance of the matchup.

“This week, we know it’s going to be a very big matchup,” Parker said. “We know the environment we are going into is going to be almost like a World Series feel… just excited to see this team go out there.”

Wells continues record-setting freshman season

Freshman catcher Kendall Wells is putting together a historic season for the Sooners, tying former Sooners Lauren Chamberlain and Jocelyn Alo, as well as Hawaii’s Kelly Majam, for the NCAA single-season freshman home run record in only 41 games.

“Kendall Wells is different,” Gasso said. “She’s made differently. She’s just got such an unbelievably natural, powerful swing… she’s done a really good job of just staying who she is… she is the voice that you hear on the bus more than anyone else.”

Wells has recorded 30 home runs on 121 at-bats, accumulating 66 RBIs and a .397 batting average through her freshman campaign.

Parker pointed to Wells’ mindset and approach as key factors in her early success.

“She’s just going out and playing and having fun, and I think that goes with all the other freshmen, too. I just think you have the mindset of nothing to lose and everything to gain, and just seeing her go out and compete is really cool to watch.”

OU pitching finding rhythm at right time

Gasso said she was encouraged by the pitching staff’s performance last weekend and expressed confidence in the group heading into the Texas series.

“We feel good about giving them the opportunity this weekend,” Gasso said. “Texas’ lineup, they’re tough. We’ve got to be really good with location and deception and making sure we’re hitting good spots.”

The pitching staff for OU has been on the uptick recently, with solid performances from sophomores Audrey Lowry and Miali Guachino, along with senior Sydney Berzon.

The trio has combined for 155 strikeouts, led by Miali Guachino’s team-high 71, while all three pitchers hold earned run averages under 3.00.

Senior infielder Ailana Agbayani said the pitching has helped fuel the team’s defensive confidence and overall cohesion.

“It helps us be confident, but always, even before, I always trust my pitchers,” Agbayani said. “We’re willing to lay out for anything. We like balls in play, strikeouts are great, but also we love making plays for them.”

The Sooners open the series against Texas in the Red River Rivalry at 6 p.m. on Friday at Red & Charline McCombs Field on ESPN 2.

This story was edited by Laurie Jones.

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