It had been 646 days since Cayla Kessinger's last home run.
As the 5-foot-9 Missouri star stepped into the batter's box on a 54-degree Florida day, the long wait since her last longball wasn't engulfing her every thought.
Kessinger's health struggles had made her chances of sending a softball flying over the fence again feel impossible at times. But the Saugus, California, native wasn't content with just playing for the Tigers again. She desired to be a difference-maker.
Her redshirt contributions during the 2019 season were felt in the dugout and in the clubhouse, but not on the field or scorebook.