Nicole Hudson is entering her first year as an assistant softball coach at Wichita State. She comes from Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Mo. where she was an assistant softball coach for the 2014 season.
As an assistant coach at Missouri Southern State University, Hudson helped the Lions set school records for home runs (32) and doubles (81) while helping the Lions nearly break the team records for fewest errors in a season (committed just 50 errors with 46 as the team record) and fielding percentage (the Lions had a .968 fielding percentage with the team fielding percentage record as .970).
During the summer of 2013, Hudson helped lead Team USA to a 3-2 record during the General Tire World Cup of Softball VII and a 13-0 record in the 2013 Pan-American/World Championship Qualifier. While on Team USA, Hudson’s combined stats included a .474 batting average in 19 at bats as she collected nine hits, scored eight runs, hit one home run with eight RBI and stole two bases.
Hudson played college softball at the University of Missouri from?2010-2013 where she became one of the top hitters in program history. When she finished her career at Missouri, she ranked in the top 10 in Tiger history in career hits (208), doubles (48), home runs (46), at-bats (654), runs scored (151), RBI (173), slugging percentage (.602) and walks (143). She also had a career slugging percentage of .602 that ranked fifth in program history.
During her college career, Hudson led the Tigers to Women’s College World Series appearances during her freshman and sophomore year while nearly leading the Tigers to Women’s College World Series appearances her junior and senior year.
The 16 home runs Hudson hit during her senior year put her just one career home run away from tying the school record of 47 held by Jen Bruck. As a pitcher, Hudson was 11-6 as Missouri’s No. 2 starter in 90.0 innings pitched, including two complete-game shutouts. She finished her senior year in the circle by striking out 32 batters.
As a senior, she was named to the All-Southeast Region Second Team and was named Southeastern Conference (SEC) Player of the Week on February 18, 2013.
As a junior in 2012, Hudson finished second on the team in batting average (.301), doubles (11), home runs (7), slugging percentage (.497) and walks (35). Hudson also walked 35 times which put her in a tie for fourth-most walks in a single season at Missouri. She was named Second Team All-Midwest, Second Team All-Big 12 and First Team Academic All-Big 12.
As a sophomore in 2011, Hudson hit .337, had the second-most home runs on the team (13), and had 51 RBI. She also doubled 14 times, had an 18/33 strikeout-to-walk ratio while stealing eight bases in as many attempts. In the circle, she went 1-1 with a 3.62 ERA.
Hudson finished her sophomore year ranked in the top-10 in the Big 12 in runs scored (10th with 49), doubles (T-7th with 14), RBI (9th with 51) and total bases (5th with 115). She was later named First Team All-Midwest Region, First Team All-Big 12, First Team Academic All-Big 12 and a two-time Big 12 Player of the Week (on April 19 and May 10, 2011).
As a freshman during the 2010 season, Hudson led all Tigers with 10 home runs and was the first true freshman since Bruck in 2005 to post double figures in home runs. Hudson’s 10 home runs tied her for the 10th most in a single season.
Hudson also tied for the fourth-most doubles in a season with 15 and had 31 walks, the sixth most walks ever in a single season in school history. During her freshman year, Hudson was named Second Team All-Big 12. Hudson earned her bachelor’s degree in graphic design in December of 2013 from Missouri.
