FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Five Methodist University student-athletes were honored by the USA South for their recent performances as released by the League on Monday afternoon.
 
In baseball, Alex Kachler was named Player of the Week, while Parker Clayton claimed Rookie of the Week honors. Matt Layden was named Men's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week and Clay Stevenson garnered Defensive Player of the Week accolades. Ashton Walker was also named Women's Tennis Player of the Week.
 
Kachler, a sophomore from Lithia, Florida, went a combined 10 for 18 (.556) at the plate to lead the No. 13 MU baseball team to a 4-0 week. He totaled 10 RBI, five runs scored, three doubles, two walks, a triple and a stolen base. He also registered a .600 on-base percentage and an .833 slugging percentage. In a 10-4 win against Guilford, Kachler recorded three hits, scored three times and drove in one run before going 7 for 13 with nine RBI, three doubles and two runs scored in a series sweep of Berea.
 
On the season, Kachler ranks nationally with 33 RBI and 23 runs scored. He also sits third in the conference with a .466 batting average, a .712 slugging percentage and a .571 on-base percentage. Kachler has also reached base safely in all 19 games this year.
 
Clayton, a freshman from Asheboro, N.C., was 5 for 11 at the plate with seven runs scored, four RBI and four walks. In the win against Guilford, Clayton went 1 for 2, scored a run, walked once and dropped down two sacrifice bunts. The second baseman finished the weekend 4 for 9 at the plate, scored six runs, drove in four and walked three times in a three-game series against Berea.
 
Clayton is one of seven Monarchs to hold a batting average of at least .300 and also ranks among Division III leaders in sacrifice bunts.
 
The baseball team returns to the diamond on Wednesday, March 14, in a nonconference game against Albertus Magnus at Armstrong-Shelley Field beginning at 4 pm.
 
Layden, a senior from Apopka, Florida, finished the week with 10 points on five goals and five assists to go along with nine ground balls and two caused turnovers to help the Monarchs go 2-0 last week. In an 18-3 win against Randolph on Wednesday, Layden scored three times and pitched in an assist and four ground balls. He finished the week with a six-point performance on two goals and four assists with five ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers in a 10-3 win at Wesley.
 
On the season, Layden leads the team with 11 goals, five assists, 16 points and 22 ground balls. He also is tied for the team lead with three man-up goals.
 
Stevenson, a native of Milford, Del., registered two wins in the cage last week. In the mid-week win against Randolph, he made seven saves, and he stopped nine shots in the victory at Wesley on Saturday. In total, he allowed just 2.44 goals per game and posted 16 saves over the week.
 
This year, Stevenson holds a 6.54 goals-against average and a .607 save percentage, both of which lead the USA South. He also has 19 ground balls and four caused turnovers.
 
Men's lacrosse returns to action on Saturday against Pfeiffer at Monarch Stadium beginning at 1 pm.
 
Walker, a junior from Goldsboro, N.C., led the Monarchs with a 4-0 record in singles play and went 3-0 in doubles as the women's tennis team was 4-1 on its Spring Break trip. She defeated Emma Joseph of Spring Arbor, 6-0, 6-1, at the third position to help MU claim a 6-3 win. In a 9-0 win against Wilkes, Walker picked up a 6-1, 6-3 victory at third singles and an 8-0 win at third doubles with partner Laura Brown. Walker and Brown also earned an 8-2 win at No. 1 doubles to push MU to a 5-4 win against Lawrence Tech. The junior recorded a victory at No. 1 singles, 6-0, 6-1, as the Monarchs fell to William Woods 7-2. Walker got two wins against Nebraska Wesleyan, a 6-0 6-0 win at the second singles slot and an 8-1 victory at the second doubles flight with Brown.
 
For the season, Walker has seven singles wins and sits at 6-0 in doubles with Brown as her partner.
 
Walker and the women's tennis team travels to face Pfeiffer on Wednesday, March 14 at 2 pm.
 
 
 
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