STARKVILLE — Mississippi State pitching threw its fourth shutout of the season as the Bulldogs blanked No. 21 Auburn 5-0 in the final game of a Southeastern Conference weekend baseball series Sunday afternoon at Dudy Noble Field.

Nick Routt and Daryl Norris combined on a four-hit shutout for the Maroon and White. It was MSU’s first shutout of a league opponent since Ricky Bowen threw a two-hit, 4-0 shutout of Ole Miss at home on March 16, 2008. MSU pitching had previously shut out Lamar, Akron and Sacred Heart on the 2011 campaign.

With the victory, the Bulldogs completed a three-game series sweep of Auburn. For the Mississippi State, it was their first three-game conference sweep since the 2007 College World Series-participant Bulldogs accomplished the same feat in this stadium against Auburn.

Winning a fourth straight game against ranked opposition, the Bulldogs maintain sole possession of second place in the Western Division standings. MSU is now 18-6 overall and 4-2 in league play, while Auburn fell to 14-10 and 2-4. The Tigers had won seven of the past eight meetings before this weekend’s activity.