LSU softball takes on Ole Miss in what will be an intense rivalry for several reasons in this particular year of collegiate athletics.
In terms of softball, there’s one main reason for the rivalry: The Tigers’ stellar leadoff hitter.
Senior centerfielder Jalia Lassiter transferred from Ole Miss ahead of the 2024-2025 season to spend her final two seasons with the Tigers. Prior to LSU, Lassiter boasted a .302 hitting average with 109 total career hits for the Rebels.
Her time in Oxford saw her score 72 runs, record 51 RBIs, walk 47 times and hit seven home runs.
During Lassiter’s time with the Rebels, when it came time for conference play against her soon-to-be team, LSU, she put up huge numbers against the Tigers.
In her freshman season, Lassiter went 2-4 and drove in an RBI double to hand LSU an SEC home opener loss. In her sophomore season, she did almost the exact same, this time helping hand then-No. 2 LSU its first loss of the season.
Her tremendous success against the Tigers might have alluded to what was to come.
“Every time I played LSU, [it was] kind of my best game,” Lassiter said regarding her transfer in 2025. “I just think it was God’s calling, and just really getting to be here on this side, it just kind of set it all.”
In her first season in Baton Rouge, she started all 58 games in center field and held a .300 batting average with a .470 slugging percentage. Concluding her junior season, Lassiter scored 52 runs and totaled 61 hits with 41 RBIs.
This season, Lassiter has had a phenomenal performance to begin her senior year. She boasts a .323 batting average as one of the top two hitters on the team, starting all 43 games so far. In her 133 at-bats, she has scored 45 runs and has driven in 26 RBIs on 43 hits. Lassiter is the only starter out of the usual seven, disregarding third base, with a perfect fielding percentage.
“Jalia has the coolest combination of just being an incredible competitor, but being extremely compassionate,” head coach Beth Torina said about the senior at the program’s 2026 media day. “I’ve rarely met someone like her in my life.”
For Lassiter, the rivalry will be a chance to see a few of her old teammates again at Tiger Park. In addition, it will be a chance to take on her former team and show the growth during her years in Baton Rouge.
“It’s always fun seeing teammates I used to play with,” Lassiter said. “When I transferred, I just wanted to go to a place [where] I could become a better person. I feel like everywhere, [you] can train to be an athlete, but it’s hard to train to be a better person in life. That was really my ultimate goal: was to be a better person.”
The first game of the anticipated series at Tiger Park will begin Friday at 6 p.m. CT.
