Marion High School graduate Megan Hudson and her .357 batting average will play next week in the NAIA softball national tournament at Decatur, Ala.

Hudson, who graduated from MHS in 2006, is the starting shortstop for the Friends University Falcons.

Her team finished 38-7 (14-2 in conference) and is ranked No. 22 in the latest NAIA top-25 poll.

This is the first year for Hudson at Friends after spending two years at Hutchinson Community College.

“I’ve never been on a team of girls that loves to play this much,” she said. “No matter what is going on, we just play.”

And they play well.

Hudson’s average ranks fifth on the team, her eight doubles are second, 40 hits fourth, and 35 runs, two home runs, and 27 RBIs are all fifth.

“There is not a hole that is weak in our lineup,” Hudson said. “We don’t hide anybody. We are stacked 1-9, and if someone gets hurt we have backups who can just come in.”

The Falcons play their opening-round game Thursday against Park University (Mo.).

Two more games are guaranteed against Hastings College (Neb.), and number one seed California Baptist and its 54-5 record.

Hudson said she wasn’t recruited by the Falcons until she hit two home runs off a Friends’ pitcher in a spring game.

The University of Kansas had approached her about joining the rowing team as well.

On the final possible day to make a decision, she chose Friends.

“I’m very happy,” she said. “The deciding factor for me was I wasn’t done yet.”

Now, Hudson and her teammates head to the national tournament after winning the KCAC postseason tournament for the fourth straight season.

Hudson said she even pondered not playing softball and just being a student.

Eight months later, she knows this is where she belongs.

“We play the game we love, and it loves us back,” she said.

Hudson is the daughter of Steve and Jill Hudson of Marion.