Lauren Bernett a softball catcher, JMU mourns the loss

James Madison University announced Tuesday morning the death of sophomore Lauren Burnett.

Burnett, a biologist from McDonald, Pennsylvania, was a starter for two years for JMU and helped lead the Dukes in last year’s race to the College Women’s World Series.

“Our hearts are heartbroken, we hear the news of the loss of one of our student athletes,” JMU Athletics Director Jeff Bourne and JMU President Jonathan Alger said in a joint statement. “Lauren Burnett has been an outstanding member of the softball team and a wonderful ambassador for JMU and our athletics program.”

Lauren Burnett has been a featured member of the softball team and a wonderful ambassador for JMU and our athletics program. She was a key member of our Women’s College 2021 Global Series team as a freshman hunter last year.

The university did not give any cause of death.

Burnett has been hitting .336 by nine home runs, six doubles, and has scored 18 points and 33 RBI points this season for JMU. On Monday, she was named Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week after hitting .788 (7 for 9) with seven RBIS and four runs in a sweeping series over Drexel.

College athletics is great because of the people we interact with every day. We are a tight family. We are grateful that Lauren has been part of the JMU Athletics community and will always consider her a Duke. We will miss her very much.

Ocoee Whitewater Center destroyed by early morning fire

A baseball double game on home soil on Wednesday versus Longwood has been cancelled. Information about other competitions remaining on the JMU schedule will be shared as soon as they become available.