JMU Nation is a close community, and we grieve together.". JMU officials announced the heartbreaking news of Lauren Bernett on Tuesday morning, saying the tragedy was "devastating.". Bernett who was batting .336 this season with nine home runs was also a key contributor to the James Madison squad that made a deep run in the 2021 Womens College World Series. "The official report from the medical examiner's office is pending, and out of respect for her family and friends, there is no other information to release at this time," Hutcheson told the AP via email. JMU Nation is a close community, and we grieve together. MORE: Mental health resources for student-athletes becoming priority at colleges. Star pitcher Odicci Alexander posted to Twitter Tuesday morning that she was heartbroken about Bernett's death, with similar tributes flooding social media after the tragic news. James Madison University is mourning the death of sophomore softball player Lauren Bernett, the school announced this week. The Odd Couple with Chris Broussard & Rob Parker, The Odd Couple w/ Chris Broussard & Rob Parker, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Send me email updates and offers from TMZ and its Affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, VA. (THECOUNT) Lauren Bernett, a James Madison University softball star who on Monday was named Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week, has died. We are a tight family. The news of Bernett's death comes just a day after she was named Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week. In a joint statement announcing Bernett's death, JMU president Jonathan Alger and athletic director Jeff Bourne said their "hearts are aching" over the death of Bernett, whom they described as "a high-achieving member of our softball team and a great ambassador of JMU and our athletics program.". Odicci Alexander, who was a member of last season's JMU team, posted a tribute to Bernett on Twitter. Scooby Axson, USA TODAY 4/26/2022. The Dukes' doubleheaderon Wednesday against Longwood wascanceled and the school sent out messages offeringsupport for mental health. "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. section: | slug: james-madison-university-softball-player-lauren-bernetts-death-classified-as-a-suicide-per-report | sport: other | route: article_single.us | A true freshman proving to be an absolute force behind the plate. The death of a James Madison softball star Lauren Bernett has been classified . She had easily eclipsed those totals in 2022 with nine homers and 33 RBI while increasing her slugging percentage by 250 points. James Madison University softball player Lauren Bernett has died, the school announced on Tuesday. Along with Harrisonburg, Rockingham County forms the Harrisonburg, VA, Metropolitan Statistical Area Wikipedia. The school did not release a cause of death in its announcement. James Madison softball player Lauren Bernett, who helped the Dukes reach last year's Women's College World Series, has died at age 20. FOX Sports Radio. Bernett -- who was batting .336 this season with nine home runs -- was also a key contributor to the James Madison squad that made a deep run in the 2021 Women's College World Series. 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If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the U.S.National Suicide Prevention Lifelineat 800-273-TALK (8255) any time day or night. Hutcheson confirmed the 20-year-old's death is being classified as such, however, an investigation is ongoing and an official report from the medical examiner's office is pending. Ill always remember her celebration to Odicci making the play., Catie Harper (@CatieHarper) April 26, 2022, We offer our deepest condolences to the Bernett family and the extended softball community that has been impacted. James Madison University softball catcher Lauren Bernett is believed to have died of an apparent suicide, Rockingham County Sheriff Bryan Hutcheson announced Thursday (April 28) via WJLA.com. "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," Alger and Bourne said in their statement. Above all other things, Sarah was a power for good in the world. ", "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. No cause of death was. She was an integral part of the James Madison. Wisconsin officials also shared their devastation while paying tribute to Shulze. The Dukes' home doubleheader against Longwood on Wednesday was canceled. "We are a tight family. Hutcheson declined to give any further details, but he said an investigation into Bernett's death is ongoing. Utility playerKayla Boseman wrote Bernett will "never be forgotten" while catcher/outfielderEmily Phillips added she's going to miss her "more than anything." Bernett went 7-for-9 in the series, hitting .788 with seven RBIs and four runs scored, the school said. Bernett started 43 games as a freshman in 2021 and hit .235 with three homers and 10 RBIs. Washington. "We will miss her dearly. he James Madison softball team announced Monday it canceled the final four games of its 2022 season after sophomore catcher Lauren Bernett died last week. News of Bernett's death comes amid a recent trend of reported deaths by suicide amount NCAA female athletes. 8:35 pm ET, Jamie Cail's death being investigated in Virgin Islands, 2023 Kentucky Derby horses, futures picks, best bets, Maine HS basketball game ends with wild buzzer-beater, 2023 Rebel Stakes odds, horse racing picks, 2023 Saudi Cup odds, horse racing picks, best bets, Where every state stands on legalizing sports betting. Days after the sports world learned about the passing of James Madison University softball player Lauren Bernett, a cause of death has been revealed. James Madison president Jonathan Alber announced Bernett's death on Tuesday (April 26), just days after she was named as the Colonial Athletic Association's Player of the Week and months removed propelling the softball team to a Women's College World Series tournament appearance last season. Bernett was 20. Statement from President Alger and Jeff Bourne on the loss of one of our own: pic.twitter.com/A5JBuR5RUg, James Madison Athletics (@JMUSports) April 26, 2022. Get TMZ breaking news sent right to your browser! "Our hearts are aching, hearing the news of the loss of one of our student-athletes. News of Bernett's death comes amid a recent trend of reported deaths by suicide amount NCAA female athletes. "Our hearts are aching, hearing the news of the loss of one of our student-athletes," James Madison University president Jonathan Alger and athletic directorJeff Bourne said in a combined statement. Sarah Shulze, a member of the University of Wisconsin's women's track and field and cross-country teams, was reported to have died by suicide earlier this month at the age of 21, NBC News reported on Monday (April 25). All Rights Reserved. We are grateful that Lauren has been part of our JMU Athletics community and will always consider her to be a Duke. 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Odicci Alexander (@2seas__) April 26, 2022. Earlier this week, Bernett wasnamed Colonial Athletic AssociationPlayer of the Weekas the Dukes swept a three-game setfrom Drexel. Just days later, in a series against Drexel on April 23, she logged hits in seven of her nine at-bats. Lauren Bernettwas a high-achieving member of our softball team and a great ambassador of JMU and our athletics program. Bernett, 20, played a major role. The sophomore was just days removed from going 7-for-9, hitting a home run and seven RBI, as well as scoring four runs during James Madison's three-game sweep of Drexel over the weekend. in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University. The school announced her death Tuesday, and the following day Rockingham County Sheriff Bryan Hutcheson classified it as an apparent suicide,according to the Associated Press. Since 2005! The sophomore catcher earned the honor Monday after going 7-for-9 with seven RBIs and four runs scored, including a home run, during a three-game sweep of Drexel this past weekend. Last month, the parents of Stanford Women's Soccer goalie Katie Meyer revealed their daughter had died by suicide during an emotional interview with NBC's TODAY Show. HARRISONBURG, Va. - James Madison University announced Tuesday that one of their own has passed away. The team has canceled its Wednesday doubleheader against Longwood in wake of Bernetts death. / by Matt Weyrich. James Madison University softball player Lauren Bernett has died, the school announced Tuesday . James Madison University softball player Lauren Bernett has died, the school announced on Tuesday. James Madison president Jonathan Alber announced Bernett's death on Tuesday (April 26), just days after she was named as the Colonial Athletic Association's Player of the Week and months removed propelling the softball team to a Women's College World Series tournament appearance last season. 22 hours ago, Lauren Bernett was named the CAA softball Player of the Week. Bernett, a sophomore, had been the program's. She was a key member of our 2021 Women's College World Series team as a freshman catcher last year," Alger said in a statement released to JMUSports.com. April 27 (UPI) -- James Madison softball catcher Lauren Bernett, who helped lead the university to a historic run to the Women's College World Series, died by apparent suicide, authorities said. Bernett was hitting .336 in 107 at bats so far this season. The announcement of Bernett's death came a day after the Colonial Athletic Association named her its Player of the Week. She was 20 years old. James Madison University softball catcherLauren Bernettis believed to have died of an apparent suicide, Rockingham County SheriffBryan Hutchesonannounced Thursday viaWJLA.com. Days after the sports world learned about the passing of James Madison University softball player Lauren Bernett, a cause of death has been revealed. The James Madison University softball team canceled the remainderof its 2022 season after the death of player Lauren Bernett last Monday. The Dukes then beat Oklahoma and Oklahoma State before losing back-to-back games to the Sooners in the WCWS. The Virginia university did not reveal Bernett's cause of death. "We will miss her dearly.". We will miss her dearly. It's the second tragedy to rock US college sports this month after the death of University of Wisconsin athletics star Sarah Shulze at the age of 21. Bernett was 20 years old. Bernett, a sophomore, was a star catcher for the Dukes and had just had arguably her best week ever on the diamond for JMU, reports TMZ. The James Madison University softball team has canceled all remaining games of the 2022 season following the death of star catcher Lauren Bernett, head coach Loren LaPorte announced Monday.. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: general | pageType: stories | "College athletics is great because of the people with whom we get to interact every day," a school statement said. James Madison University softball star Lauren Bernett -- who was just named Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week on Monday -- has died, the school announced. We are grateful that Lauren has been part of our JMU Athletics community and will always consider her to be a Duke. James Madison president Jonathan Alber announced Bernett's death on Tuesday (April 26), just days after she was named as the Colonial Athletic Association's Player of the Week and months removed propelling the softball team to a Women's College World Series tournament appearance last season. James Madison announced Tuesday that softball team catcher Lauren Bernett had died. James Madison University softball player Lauren Bernett dies. I love you Lauren pic.twitter.com/lDVFWykasX, Former JMU star Odicci Alexander, Softball America's 2021 Pitcher of the Year, wrote "Love you LB" with a broken heart emoji two minutes before tweeting "You really never know what someone is going through.". The sophomore was just days removed from going 7-for-9, hitting a home run and seven RBI, as well as scoring four runs during James Madison's three-game sweep of Drexel over the weekend. JMU Nation is a close community, and we grieve together.". 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