Baltimore, Md.-- UMBC baseball got back into the win column with a 6-1 win against Maryland Eastern Shore on Wednesday night behind a big pitching performance from starter Tanner Esposito (Williamsport, Pa.). The rookie went six innings, giving up just two hits and one run in the win.

UMBC improves to 17-17 on the year, while the Hawks fall to 9-31.

The Retrievers got things going with a run in the first thanks to Colin Casey (Ipswich, Mass.). Casey flew out to center, scoring Terrence Pinkston (La Plata, Md./McDonough/Norfolk State) who led off the game with a double. UMBC added two more in the second with Ethan Wentzlaff (Damascus, Md./Damascus) scoring on a passed ball and Ethan Gallagher (Catonsville, Md./Mount St. Joseph/Wake Forest) scoring on a Blaze O'Saben (Warrenton, Va.) fly out to give UMBC a 3-0 lead early.

The Hawks would respond in their half of the third to cut the deficit to 3-1, but that would be all they would get, as the Retriever pitching staff held the Hawks to just one more hit the rest of the way.

The Retrievers added runs in the fifth, seventh, and eighth to add to their lead. Casey had another sacrifice fly in the fifth, AJ Wright (Cherry Hill, N.J.) and Pinkston each drove in runs on a fielder's choice and RBI single to give UMBC a 6-1 win on Wednesday.

Esposito picked up his first win of the year going 6.0 innings, surrendering just two hits and one run.

Pinkston, O'Saben, and Gallagher each had two hits to lead the Retrievers.

UMBC will conclude their home stand with a key America East series on Friday and Saturday against second-place Hartford. The two will play a double header on Friday at noon and a single on Saturday at 6 p.m.