This is Tudor’s fourth season at WKU and the senior pitcher Downing is the first player her coach has had for four straight seasons.
“I guess she wanted a statue, but I don’t think we’re going to give her a statue,” Tudor joked Tuesday.
Downing’s senior season will officially begin Friday in Starkville, Miss. WKU is set to face Stephen F. Austin at 10 a.m. and Georgia State at 12:30 p.m. in the team’s season-opening contests.
Downing is one of just two seniors on a young Lady Topper team that features more incoming freshmen (eight) than returning letterwinners (five).