The No.14 OU softball team relied on explosive hitting and strong pitching performances Wednesday night to sweep the two-game series against Baylor in Waco, Texas.

With a 6-1 win for freshman pitcher Keilani Ricketts during the first game, OU freshman pitcher Michelle Gascoigne held off the Bears to collect the 3-1 win during the second game of the evening. The Sooners improved to 34-10 overall for the season and 8-3 in Big 12 action.

The Sooner bats jumped to a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning with an RBI single by freshman infielder Jessica Shults during the first game of the evening.

The single to left field by Shults scored freshman center fielder Brianna Turang who reached base earlier in the inning off of a single down the left field line.

The Sooners scored their second run in the top of the third inning after a fielding error by Baylor allowed junior outfielder Chana’e Jones to score after hitting a double to right field.

Jones advanced to third base with a single by senior second baseman Amber Flores. The run was scored while Flores attempted to steal second base but the throw was misfired.

Baylor would score its only run of the game in the bottom of the third inning after Bree Hanafin was hit by a pitch and Kayce Walker singled to shortstop to begin the inning.

A ground out to first base by Courtney Nieten allowed Hanafin to score from third base after advancing by a fielder’s choice.

Ricketts ended the first game with five strikeouts, one earned run and two hits through seven innings.

The Sooners tacked on four runs in the top of the fifth inning with back-to-back home runs by Shults and senior catcher Lindsey Vandever. Both teammates have now hit double-digit home runs with Shults leading the team with 13 and Vandever following behind with 10.

The home run by Shults scored Jones and Flores who reached base by a walk and a hit by pitch respectively to start the inning.

The tempo continued for the Sooners in the second game with, this time with starting pitcher Michelle Gascoigne. The freshman pitcher held the Bears to no runs through six complete innings before giving up an RBI double late in the bottom of the seventh.

The Sooners led off the second game by scoring in the top of the fourth inning off of an RBI single by Vandever. Flores walked and then advanced to third base on a fielding error by the Bears before finding home plate off of Vandever’s single through the left side.

Sophomore pinch runner Evan Sallis advanced to third base on the single after running for Shults who reached base off of a single up the middle. Sallis scored later in the inning off of a wild pitch to put the Sooners up 2-0.

OU added an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning off of an RBI single through the left side by junior pinch hitter Haley Anderson with the bases loaded.

After Shults singled and Vandever was hit by a pitch, junior infielder Dani Dobbs reached on a Baylor fielding error to load the bases. Anderson’s single through the left side scored Shults to put the Sooners up 3-0 over the Bears through six innings.

Baylor tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh off of a double by Kathy Shelton to score Nicole Welsey who reached base off of a single to start the inning.

Gascoigne closed the rally down by striking out Sydney Wilson with two runners left on base. Through seven innings pitched, Gascoigne struck out seven batters and allowed only one run on three hits.

The Sooners head north to take on the Nebraska Huskers this weekend in Lincoln, Neb. The first game begins at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 24, with a second game scheduled at noon Sunday.