He's worked at PEOPLE's Los Angeles Bureau as a writer and reporter since 2017 and has interviewed the likes of Kobe Bryant, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Brady. 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 school announced her death Tuesday, and the following day . Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Earlier this week, Bernett wasnamed Colonial Athletic AssociationPlayer of the Weekas the Dukes swept a three-game setfrom Drexel. 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. "Lauren Bernett was a high-achieving member of our softball team and a great ambassador of JMU and our athletics program. "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. Just a tragic loss.https://t.co/bWXNVwxyau pic.twitter.com/fWj1w5eOwS, JMU softball took the country by storm last year and Lauren Bernett played a huge part in that. Representatives for the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University. Last month, the parents ofStanford Women's Soccer goalieKatie Meyerrevealed their daughter had died by suicide during an emotional interview withNBC'sTODAY Show. 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. "We will miss her dearly.". ", We love you, Lauren pic.twitter.com/WWt4lkm2gG. The Dukes, who made the Women's College World Series last year, will finish the . The team has canceled its Wednesday doubleheader against Longwood in wake of Bernett's death. 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 | The Dukes' home doubleheader against Longwood on Wednesday was canceled. USA TODAY The James Madison University softball team canceled the remainder of its 2022 season after the death of player Lauren Bernett last Monday. James Madison softball player Lauren Bernett, who helped the Dukes reach last year's Women's College World Series, has died at age 20. "We are a tight family. 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.". The University announced its home softball doubleheader against Longwood University on Wednesday has subsequently been canceled. 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. We love you, Lauren pic.twitter.com/WWt4lkm2gG. STAY UP-TO-DATE: Subscribe to our Sports newsletter now! Jason Hahn is a Human Interest and Sports Reporter for PEOPLE. News of Bernett's death comes amid a recent trend of reported deaths by suicide amount NCAA female athletes. Just days later, in a series against Drexel on April 23, she logged hits in seven of her nine at-bats. Lauren Bernett, a star player on James Madison University's softball team, has died at age 20. "We are grateful that Lauren has been part of our JMU Athletics community and will always consider her to be a Duke," their statement read. Shehit .778with seven RBIin the series. https://t.co/QettsmChF0, Today, the JMU athletic community gathered to honor JMU softball's Lauren Bernett, who passed away yesterday.https://t.co/kY0hLvpMdH pic.twitter.com/mtT0DBNm5C, TheBreezeJMU (@TheBreezeJMU) April 27, 2022, Lauren Bernett will always be remembered by #JMUNation for her role on the @JMUSoftball WCWS team. She was a key member of our 2021 Women's College World Series team as a freshman catcher last year. James Madison University softball player Lauren Bernett died by suicide, the Western Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Virginia said Thursday. 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. 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. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Bernett was 20 years old. Four games, one against Virginia and three against Elon, were affected. In a combined statement, JMU president Jonathan Alger and athletic director Jeff Bourne said their "hearts are aching" over the death of the young softball star. The. CNN James Madison University said it will cancel the remainder of its softball season as the death of student athlete Lauren Bernett was ruled a suicide. She was 20 years old. James Madison University is mourning the death of sophomore softball player Lauren Bernett, the school announced this week. Authorities with the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office announced that Bernett's death has. JMU officials announced the heartbreaking news of Lauren Bernett on Tuesday morning, saying the tragedy was "devastating.". The school did not release a cause of death in its announcement. On Monday, the CAA handed her its Player of the Week award for her performances. We are grateful that Lauren has been part of our JMU Athletics community and will always consider her to be a Duke. Geo quick facts: Rockingham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia. Lauren you are forever in our hearts. "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. James Madison University softball player Lauren Bernett died by suicide, the Western Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Virginia said Thursday. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. We will miss her dearly. "College athletics is great because of the people with whom we get to interact every day. FOX Sports Radio. https://t.co/90K77ss6Il, Seton Hill Softball (@SHUgriffinsSB) April 26, 2022. The release also announced the cancellation of JMU softball's Wednesday doubleheader against Longwood and offered several mental-health resources. The American college sports community has been left heartbroken by another tragedy, after news that James Madison University (JMU) softball star Lauren Bernett has died at the age of 20. We extend our deepest sympathies and sincere condolences to Sarahs family, friends and Badger teammates during this extraordinarily difficult time. By subscribing, I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, 2023 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. James Madison softball player Lauren Bernett has died, the school announced Tuesday. He has a B.A. The James Madison University softball team canceled the remainderof its 2022 season after the death of player Lauren Bernett last Monday. "JMU Nation is a close community, and we grieve together," they added. ", "Our hearts are aching, hearing the news of the loss of one of our student-athletes," officials said "We are a tight family. Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world. "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. ", LIVE NOW: 3 Men Convicted In Ahmaud Arbery Killing Learn Sentence, It's Official Twitter Confirms Elon Musk New Owner, Sam Bruce St. Thomas Aquinas HS Football Legend Found Dead At 24. She recorded four of her seven hits of the series on Sunday, which also included a home run. 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. Bernett, a sophomore, was a star catcher for the Dukes and had just had arguably her best week ever on the diamond for JMU. Photo: Courtesy of James Madison University. The university's athletic department announced the tragic news Tuesday, but did not list a . All Rights Reserved. James Madison has canceled the remainder of its softball season following the death of catcher Lauren Bernett. You looked so good yesterday. Star James Madison University softball player Lauren Bernett, who helped the school in its historic run to the Women's College World Series, died of apparent suicide, authorities said. Lauren Bernettwas a high-achieving member of our softball team and a great ambassador of JMU and our athletics program. Bernett . The Odd Couple with Chris Broussard & Rob Parker, The Odd Couple w/ Chris Broussard & Rob Parker, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Bernett was a sophomore from McDonald, Pennsylvania and an integral part of the JMU team that made it to the 2021 Women's College World Series. section: | slug: james-madison-university-softball-player-lauren-bernetts-death-classified-as-a-suicide-per-report | sport: other | route: article_single.us | Odicci Alexander (@2seas__) April 26, 2022. JMU Nation is a close community, and we grieve together.". We will miss her dearly. The Dukes won twogames in Oklahoma City before losing back-to-back games to the eventual champion Oklahoma in the semifinals. 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. 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. She was an integral part of the James Madison. On Monday, the CAA handed her its Player of the Week award for her performances. The news of Bernett's death comes just a day after she was named Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week. Alex Riley (@ByAlexRiley) April 26, 2022, Two female college athletes died this week, one confirmed suicide:Sarah Shulze - University of Wisconsin trackLauren Bernett - James Madison softballAbsolutely heartbreaking. She was 20. Scooby Axson, USA TODAY 4/26/2022. "College athletics is great because of the people with whom we get to interact every day. Wisconsin officials also shared their devastation while paying tribute to Shulze. She was 20 years old. We love you, Lauren, the JMU softball team said in a tweet on Tuesday. Just days later, in a series against Drexel on April 23, she logged hits in seven of her nine at-bats. Star pitcher Odicci Alexander posted to Twitter Tuesday morning that she was heartbroken about Bernett's death. We are grateful that Lauren has been part of our JMU Athletics community and will always consider her to be a Duke," they said. Bernett's shocking death was announced Tuesday by the university. To honor Bernett, Liberty and Tennessee -- who both played JMU in last season's NCAA Regionals -- wore purple ribbons during their softball game Wednesday. Shulze, of Oak Park, California, earned Academic All-Big Ten honors for the 2020 and 2021 cross country seasons, as well as 2021 for track. "Our hearts are aching, hearing the news of the loss of one of our student-athletes. 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