James Madison catcher Lauren Bernett has passed away, the school announced on Tuesday morning.
University president Jonathan Alger and athletic director Jeff Bourne released a statement from the school on Tuesday:
“Dear JMU community,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. 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. Our thoughts are with her family; her coaches, teammates and friends; the rest of our department staff and student-athletes; and the entire JMU community. JMU Nation is a close community, and we grieve together.”
Bernett was the starting catcher for the Dukes during JMU’s run to the Women’s College World Series last season and was behind the plate for the team’s Cinderella showing in the championship tournament. She was in her sophomore season at JMU and was named the CAA Player of the Week in an award announced on Monday.
A McDonald, Pennsylvania native, Bernett leaves behind parents and four siblings.
