I know a lot of employers prefer hiring from local universities, I'm not from a local U, how can I pitch myself to stand out?

You have to then exemplify how you are better than the other applicants.

If you partook in relevant competition (e.g. case competition) and performed reasonably well, you can use to show case proficiency in a particular skill set. If you have completed many internships where the role is similar to that of what you are applying to, you can use it to highlight your expertise. If you have no prior professional or extracurricular experiences, you can still display your ability by completing a tasking common in the industry. (e.g. slide deck)

It all depends on how you market yourself.