Since April 9, 2014, the No. 14 LSU softball team has dominated its in-state rivals, winning 13 consecutive games and losing only one.
This season, the Tigers (36-13, 10-11 Southeastern Conference) are a perfect 6-0 against Louisiana universities and have outscored all opponents by 48 runs. However, McNeese State looks to put a blemish on the streak when the teams battle at 6 p.m. on Tuesday in Tiger Park.
“They are not going to give us a win just because of who we are,” said senior infielder Sandra Simmons. “They are going to come with their best game, so we need to come out with our best game as well. They’re fighters.”
The Cowgirls (33-10, 18-3 Southland Conference) are arguably the toughest in-state foe LSU will face and were the last Louisiana university to defeat the Tigers after securing a 2-1 comeback victory on April 9, 2014.
LSU enters Tuesday’s contest having won each of its last six games. In the 16 matchups prior to the six-game winning streak, the Tigers managed to plate 44 runs, and in their most recent streak they scored 40 runs.
“I know their record. I know who they’ve beaten in the SEC and around the country,” said LSU coach Beth Torina. “They have a kid who I believe leads the country in home runs.”
McNeese State sophomore infielder Erika Piancastelli — the threat Torina mentioned — is second behind Coastal Carolina’s senior catcher and national home run leader Morgan Noad.
In her rookie campaign, Piancastelli broke the Cowgirls’ single-season home run record with 18 homers in 55 games.
In 2016, she already has 20 long shots through 43 games and is hitting a blistering .417 at the plate.
Despite the sophomore’s abilities, the rest of the McNeese State batting order shifts from game-to-game. But even without a consistent lineup, the Cowgirls are averaging .311 from the plate.
The Lake Charles team comes to Baton Rouge with a 2-1 record against SEC opponents. They split a two-game set with Mississippi State at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic and defeated Ole Miss in the Troy Classic earlier this season.
The Cowgirls will be attempting to win their third game against the Tigers in Baton Rouge and notch their fourth win of all-time against LSU on Tuesday.
“We’re approaching this [midweek game] a little different just because McNeese is so talented,” Torina said. “We’re going to prepare for them [Monday] and take our off day later in the week … We’ve seen what they can do, so we’re going to make sure we are ready to give them our best game.”

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Emily Brauner

LSU senior infielder Sandra Simmons (3) runs to first during the Tigers' 8-0 victory against South Carolina on Saturday, April 23, 2016 in Tiger Park.