The James Madison softball team made a run to the 2021 Women’s College World Series last year and catcher Lauren Bernett was a key part of the team’s success. The school announced Tuesday that Bernett had died. No cause of death was provided.
The JMU family is devastated to have lost one of our own.
All our love and support are with Lauren’s family, her @JMUSoftball community and all those who knew her.
📰 | https://t.co/TbZJT55w0a pic.twitter.com/v30oHMOyZO
— James Madison Athletics (@JMUSports) April 26, 2022
“Our hearts are aching, hearing the news of the loss of one of our student-athletes. Lauren Bernett was a high-achieving member of our softball team and a great ambassador of JMU and our athletics program,” JMU president Jonathan Alger and athletic director Jeff Bourne said in a combined statement. “She was a key member of our 2021 Women’s College World Series team as a freshman catcher last year.
“College athletics is great because of the people with whom we get to interact every day. We are a tight family. We are grateful that Lauren has been part of our JMU Athletics community and will always consider her to be a Duke. We will miss her dearly.”
Last year, the Dukes made it all the way to the WCWS semifinal thanks in part to Bernett’s play at catcher as a freshman.
The news comes just a day after Bernett had been named CAA Player of the Week following a series in which she hit .778 and garnered seven RBIs.
🥎 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 🥎
Lauren Bernett has been named the conference Player of the Week after her impressive performance this weekend!
📰 https://t.co/954Q6Gnhe2#GoDukes pic.twitter.com/ssxzJh6uTA
— JMU Softball (@JMUSoftball) April 25, 2022
On Saturday, Lauren Bernett joined Logan Newton and Megan Good in the record book with 𝙎𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙉 RBIs in a single game!#GoDukes pic.twitter.com/yzsyhCK2eP
— JMU Softball (@JMUSoftball) April 19, 2022
Bernett was celebrated on social media by some of her teammates and fellow students.
Love you LB 💔 pic.twitter.com/4nHtx3PODR
— Odicci Alexander (@2seas__) April 26, 2022
JMU student-athletes from nearly every sport at JMU have gathered together to mourn the loss of Lauren Bernett at a flower drop memorial: pic.twitter.com/zgDLIYA3hb
— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) April 26, 2022