The No. 17 LSU softball team isn’t quite done playing teams from Mississippi, which may or may not be a good thing.The Tigers (21-7, 8-3) cooly dispatched Mississippi State last weekend, sweeping the Bulldogs by a combined score of 16-10.But a midweek trip to play Ole Miss didn’t go as well, with a late-inning rally from Ole Miss resulting in a 3-2 loss and a doubleheader split with the Rebels.Tonight’s close encounter of the Mississippi kind will be with Mississippi Valley State (24-9, 9-0) at Tiger Park.The Devilettes sit atop the Southwestern Athletic Conference and are the only team in the league with a winning record.Their standing probably comes as no surprise to LSU coach Yvette Girouard, as the Devilettes have won five-consecutive SWAC championships and advanced to the NCAA regionals against LSU in 2008.The Tigers defeated MVSU, 8-0, in five innings at the old Tiger Park.”Mississippi Valley State is always a regional team and are leading the SWAC once again this season,” Girouard said.MVSU’s trip to Baton Rouge will mark another homecoming for a former LSU softball player.Former LSU outfielder Trena Peel — who was named 2002 Southeastern Conference Athlete of the Year — will return to campus as an assistant coach for the Devilettes.”It’s always special to welcome back a former Tiger to LSU,” Girouard said.The Tigers’ crop will probably be more focused on getting hits than meet-and-greets. LSU managed five runs off seven hits in its second game against Ole Miss, but the Tigers’ four hits and two runs in the opening loss to the Rebels was enough to stick in Girouard’s mind despite the win. “Our goal for Thursday is to concentrate on the Tigers,” Girouard said. “We need to continue to get better every time we take the field.”A big factor in plate production will probably be LSU junior outfielder Rachel Mitchell.Mitchell was named both the Southeastern Conference and National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s Player of the Week on Monday.Mitchell tallied six hits for 11 RBI in wins against Mississippi State and No. 4 Alabama. Her production tailed off slightly against Ole Miss, as she hit 1-for-6 at the plate.The Tigers’ likely starter tonight will be either junior pitcher Cody Trahan or freshman pitcher Brittany Mack.Mack (7-1) has won six-straight games, including Tuesday’s win against the Rebels.Trahan (6-2) seemed poised to collect a complete game, no-hitter against Ole Miss, but the Tigers fell apart in the final inning. Trahan allowed three hits to let the Rebels back into the game and surrendered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 10th inning.—-Contact David Helman at [email protected]