Kansas University softball coach Tracy Bunge has seen a bit of a glow on her players’ faces the past few days.

After 24 games on the road, No. 24 Kansas finally will play its home opener — against Oklahoma at 2 p.m. today.

The teams also will meet at 1 p.m. Sunday at Jayhawk Field.

“They’re pretty excited,” Bunge said. “It’s always hard on our team to play so much on the road.”

Kansas has traveled to Florida, Alabama, Stillwater, Okla., and California in the last six weeks. It has been grueling, but it doesn’t show on the record. The Jayhawks come into today’s game with an 18-6 overall mark, though they’re 0-2 in Big 12 Conference play.

The fast start is even more impressive considering Bunge’s squad has just one senior and seven freshmen.

“I am thrilled with the 18-6 start,” Bunge said. “Even though we don’t have experience, we’re playing like we do.”

KU will get a major test this weekend. Oklahoma is ranked No. 4 in the latest collegiate poll and has raced to a 25-4 start. The Jayhawks will face Kami Keiter, Oklahoma’s ace who has started the season 14-1 with a 0.81 earned run average. Junior Kara Pierce (11-4, 0.86) will pitch for Kansas.

Oklahoma has won 11 of the last 12 meetings against Kansas, though KU prevailed in the opening round of the Big 12 tournament last year, 3-1.

Bunge said her team would go into today’s game with no fears, despite the recently successful squad OU brings to Lawrence.

“They have a lot of talent, and they’ve been playing extremely well,” Bunge said. “We very much respect them, but we’re not in awe of them.”