Tragic information … James Madison College softball star Lauren Bernett — who was simply named Colonial Athletic Affiliation Participant of the Week on Monday — has died, the college introduced.

She was simply 20 years previous.

In an announcement asserting the unhappy information Tuesday morning, JMU officers didn’t reveal a reason behind loss of life … however stated the tragedy was “devastating.”

“Our hearts are aching, listening to the information of the lack of considered one of our student-athletes,” officers stated … “We’re a good household. We’re grateful that Lauren has been a part of our JMU Athletics group and can at all times think about her to be a Duke. We’ll miss her dearly.”

Bernett, a sophomore, was a star catcher for the Dukes … and had simply had arguably her finest week ever on the diamond for JMU.

In a recreation in opposition to Faculty of Charleston on April 16, she recorded three hits and 7 RBIs — a JMU file. Simply days later, in a collection in opposition to Drexel on April 23, she logged hits in seven of her 9 at-bats.

On Monday, the CAA handed her its Participant of the Week award for her performances.

Bernett — who was batting .336 this season with 9 dwelling runs — was additionally a key contributor to the James Madison squad that made a deep run within the 2021 Ladies’s Faculty World Collection.

“We love you, Lauren,” the JMU softball workforce stated in a tweet on Tuesday.

The workforce has canceled its Wednesday doubleheader in opposition to Longwood in wake of Bernett’s loss of life.