Wes Braden allowed just three hits over six innings and Brian Hastings added a solo homer as 18th-ranked College of Charleston edged Georgia State, 7-6, in college baseball action before 222 on Sunday.

Charleston, which took two-of-three games in the series, improved to 26-5 overall. The Panthers fell to 18-16.

Braden allowed three runs, one earned, with three strikeouts to earn the win and improve to 3-0 on the season. Brett Harker worked the final two innings for his sixth save. Romas Hicks (3-4) was the starter and loser for GSU.

Jess Easterling's two-out, two-run single capped the first inning and gave the Cougars a 3-0 lead.

The Cougars took a 4-0 lead on Byron Barber's RBI grounder in the fifth that scored Phillip Coker who doubled leading off the inning.

Hastings' two-out homer to left in the sixth, his sixth on the season, gave Charleston a 5-0 lead.

After Chris Dentler's two-run homer for Georgia State in the bottom of the sixth cut the margin to 5-2, Charleston stretched its lead to 7-2 in the seventh.

Brett Gardner, who went 3-for-5 on the day, scored on an error and D.J. Wabick scored on Chris Campbell's RBI single to center.

Ryan Newman's three-run homer in the ninth cut Charleston's lead to 7-6. It was his ninth on the season.

The Cougars play host to rival Charleston Southern in a 6:00 start on Tuesday.