Patty Gasso knew the first two weekends would be very important for Oklahoma's season.

The Sooners hit the road for both weekends, playing six games in California before playing four games last weekend at the Getterman Classic in Waco, Texas. From a strategy standpoint, the early games were huge opportunities for the coaching staff to figure out a new-look roster. But the weekends were also important opportunities for the Sooners to build chemistry both on and off the field.

Mission accomplished, in both regards. The Sooners boast a perfect 10-0 record and have moved up to No. 2 in the latest rankings. They've outscored their opponents by a combined score of 86-15.

It's been mostly dominance for the Sooners. But what has stood out to Gasso?

"I really feel they’re very comfortable with each other," Gasso said during Tuesday's media availability. "They fight. They fight as a team. And that was one of the things we wanted to establish right from the start was the connection and chemistry and getting them to understand that this locker room should be free of negative and a place where everybody feels safe and they’re enjoying themselves. I’m not in there so I don’t know, but I do trust that they’re really getting along well.

"You can hear it on the bus rides, you can watch them in the dugout. There’s a really good connection going on."

That early connection is translating to the field. Despite the mostly-new roster, the defensive prowess typical of Gasso's teams has remained strong. The Sooners rank 10th in earned run average (1.38) and fifth in fielding percentage (.989). The pitching staff, which was question mark coming into the year, have allowed just 35 hits and an opponent batting average of .155 while ranking second in strikeout-to-walk ratio (9.75).

Offensively, the Sooners have continued humming along. They rank 11th in scoring (8.6 runs per game), 13th in slugging percentage (.636), 13th in on-base percentage (.470) and tied for seventh in total home runs (19).

"I’m loving them right now. They are just very hard working, they are fearless, they hustle, they’re strong, they play as a team, they’re somewhat intimidating on the field, they’re fast, they’re clutch — everything I’m looking for. I really, really enjoyed them this last weekend. I thought they played really, really well."

Now, the Sooners look to continue that momentum this weekend when they make their home debut. The Sooners will play a four-game slate that includes Tulsa, Wichita State, Bowling Green and Abilene Christian over the course of the weekend in a great opportunity to improve to 14-0.

It's actually part of an extended home stand for the Sooners. They'll spend the next three weekends at home, which includes opening SEC play in a three-game series against South Carolina. It's a nice chance for the newcomers to adjust to playing at Love's Field, which Gasso said took some time last season.

"I hope this new team will feel it and get used to it quickly," Gasso said. "But it's so enjoyable to play in front of a crowd who appreciates what we do on the field. And they're great fans. Sometimes they don't appreciate a few things we do on the field and they let us know it. But most fans do that to all sports.

"So I've been thrilled with the fans that are falling in love with this team and their energy and their effort and their blue-collar approach. And as a coach, it's cool to watch it from my perspective."

That includes true freshmen like Sydney Barker, who has impressed in her first games at Oklahoma. Barker, who has already started six games in the infield and leads the team in slugging percentage (1.250) and ranks fourth in batting average (.375), is looking forward to her first games at Love's Field.

"Being a freshman, it's a lot different than anything I've ever played in front of," Barker said. "I think it's awesome. It's so cool to see that we have such a large fan base that's so invested in every game that we have and that even follow us. We saw some familiar faces in California and Texas. So it's really, really cool to see.

"But on the other side, on the field, I think it's more of an aspect of being able to block out that outside noise and having the ability to kind of stay within our circle, stay within ourselves and not let the moment get too big. So I think it's awesome, honestly, that all the fans come out and it's a really cool feeling knowing the support."

Saturday, Feb. 22

Tulsa vs. Oklahoma - 3 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 23

Wichita State vs. Oklahoma - 3:30 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 24

Bowling Green vs. Oklahoma - 11 a.m.

Abilene Christian vs. Oklahoma - Love's Field - 2 p.m.

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