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No. 3 OU softball (38-3, 11-1 SEC) swept Kentucky (22-19, 1-14 SEC) in a three-game series at Love’s Field, highlighted by freshman catcher Kendall Wells tying the NCAA freshman single-season home run record.

Here are three key takeaways:

Wells hits record-tying 30th home run

Wells officially reached the 30-home run mark on Saturday, tying former Sooners Jocelyn Alo and Lauren Chamberlain, along with Hawaii's Kelly Majam, for the NCAA freshman single-season record. 

Wells has reached the milestone at a rare pace, doing so in 41 games while consistently producing in the middle of OU’s lineup. 

Wells also set the SEC record for home runs in a season last Tuesday against Wichita State, surpassing former Arkansas Razorback Bri Ellis, who hit 26 home runs during the 2025 season.

She now sits seven home runs shy of the NCAA single-season home run record of 37, set by Arizona’s Laura Espinoza in 1995. 

Sooners run rule Wildcats in all three outings

Sooner bats were alive throughout the series, producing three separate run-rule victories. Game one finished 10-2, followed by a 9-1 win in game two, with both games finishing in five innings. The series finale locked in a similar result as junior outfielder Kasidi Pickering hit a walk-off run-rule grand slam to secure the sweep.

Pickering had an efficient series, tallying six runs batted in across the three games. Other notable Sooners in the series include freshman outfielder Kai Minor, who racked up five hits and four runs in the series, junior utility player Ella Parker, who added four RBIs and freshman first baseman Lexi McDaniel, who hit her ninth home run of the year, racking up five RBIs in game two.

OU pitching staff continues to dominate

In three blowout wins, the OU pitching staff held Kentucky in check, allowing just five runs over the weekend. Sophomore pitchers Audrey Lowry and Miali Guachino earned wins in games one and two, while senior Sydney Berzon secured the victory in the series finale.

Lowry improved to 17-1 on the season, tossing for four innings of two-run ball with two strikeouts while allowing five hits. Guachino extended her record to 11-0, also going four innings while allowing one run, striking out three and giving up just three hits. Berzon followed with a four-inning performance of her own, improving to 5-1 on the year after throwing a scoreless outing with one strikeout.

Sooner pitchers have been consistent throughout the season, easing preseason concerns. Since the return of pitching coach Jennifer Rocha, OU has remained dominant in the circle, not allowing more than four runs in a game.

Next, OU will take on Texas in a Red River Rivalry series that will start at 6 p.m. Friday at Love’s Field on ESPN2.

This story was edited by Laurie Jones.

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