It’s much easier to hit a softball without having a migraine headache. Ask Christi Musser.
Musser, a Kansas University junior outfielder, hit her first career home run and a ringing gap double as the Jayhawks plunked Missouri-Kansas City, 7-2, in the second game of a twinbill Tuesday at Jayhawk Field.
Kansas also won the opener, 2-0.
After a promising freshman season, Musser struggled with a .202 average and just one extra base hit in 45 games last spring.
“The thing with Christi is physically she never felt good last year,” KU coach Tracy Bunge said. “Then we found out what was going on, and now she’s put on weight and she feels better. Offensively, she can drive the ball with authority now.”
Two months ago, Musser learned she had diabetes.
“She’d been struggling with headaches, lethargy and not feeling well,” Bunge said. “Then she had migraines really bad during the Christmas break.”
When Musser returned to Mount Oread for the spring semester, Bunge sent her to the campus hospital after she almost passed out during a practice session. Diagnosis: diabetes. Prescription: insulin.
“It’s made all the difference in the world,” Bunge said. “She’s dealt with it phenomenally well. It’s been amazing.”
Musser’s twin sister, Shelly, who plays next to her in center field, has changed her lifestyle a bit to accommodate her roommate.
“I try to eat what she has to eat and not have stuff around that might be a temptation to her,” Shelly said.
Otherwise, it’s been a relief, Shelly said, to see her sister healthy again. “I’ve seen her improve in everything her energy, how fast she runs.”
Meanwhile, Christi gave Shelly partial credit for slamming the first home run of her college career, an opposite-field drive over the left center field fence in the fourth inning of the second game.
“Shelly was on second base,” Christi said, “and she saw their catcher give the pitch’s location. Shelly gave me the signal it was outside, so I looked outside and it helped.”
On the raw, chilly afternoon, Christi Musser’s bat may have been hot, but that was it. She wore a blue sweatshirt in left field while her teammates, including Shelly, wore the standard uniform.
“I tend to get colder than most people,” Christi explained.
“Yeah, she’s always cold,” Shelly quipped, “but I’m tougher than she is.”
All kidding aside, Shelly admitted she worries she could develop diabetes just like her genetic lookalike.
“Yes, I do,” she said. “I still have a 50 percent chance if it was heredity.”
Neither of the Mussers’ parents have diabetes.
Curiously, Katie Campbell, one of the other set of twins on KU’s softball team, also had a big day at the plate. Campbell homered and doubled in the opener, and doubled in the nightcap. Twin sister Kelly Campbell was the winning pitcher in the second game.
Kirsten Milhoan tossed a three-hit shutout in the first game that also featured a solo homer by shortstop Courtney Wright.
Kansas (16-15) is scheduled to meet Arkansas in a doubleheader at 2 p.m. today at Jayhawk Field.
