HOOVER, Ala. -- Konnor Pilkington (7-5) led No. 5 seed Mississippi State to a 3-0 first-round win over No. 12 seed Georgia in the SEC Tournament.

Pilkington only allowed five hits with 6 K's across the first eight innings of the game. At one point the sophomore pitcher retired 15 consecutive Georgia batters. Freshman RHP Riley Self earned his fifth save on the season, closing out the last three outs in the ninth.

Pilkington has now held Georgia scoreless in 16 innings this season. This was the seventh time Georgia has been shut out in the tournament, tying South Carolina for the most of any team.

SEC Player of the Year Brent Rooker gave Mississippi State a 2-0 lead in the first with his 21st home run of the season. Rooker's home run scored leadoff batter Ryan Gridley, who reached base after being hit by a pitch.

Rooker's 21 home runs are the most by a Mississippi State player since 1989.

Rooker leads the SEC in all three Triple Crown categories and is poised to become just the second SEC player in history to win the Triple Crown. Former Mississippi State great Rafael Palmeiro is the only other player to accomplish that feat.

Mississippi State put another run on the board in the third, extending their lead to 3-0. The Bulldogs loaded the bases with singles from Rooker, Jake Mangum and Hunter Stovall. Hunter Vansau's left-field fly out brought Rooker home.

UP NEXT: Mississippi State will face No. 4 seed Arkansas as the final game in the second round of the SEC Tournament. Due to Tuesday's weather delays the game has been scheduled to start at 10:30 am ET Thursday on SEC Network.