JMU Dukes softball player Lauren Bernett, part of 2021 College World Series run, dies

Lauren Bernett, a softball player for James Madison University, has died, the school announced Tuesday.

No cause of death or additional details were provided.

«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."

Odicci Alexander, star pitcher of JMU's Women's College World Series run in 2021, posted «Love you LB» on social media, as well as, «You really never know what someone is going through.»

Love you LB