CRANFORD, N.J. -- On Wednesday, June 21, the Essex Cubs took on Untamed Baseball at Walsh Field. The bats came alive for both teams, but Untamed Baseball came out on top behind a three-hit and two RBI performance from Jack Burke and a four-hit performance from Michael Mele. 

Untamed starter, Josh Cohen, relied on the breaking ball early. He cruised through the first three innings, facing the minimum of nine batters and recording five strikeouts over the three innings.

While Cohen cruised, Cubs pitcher Ronnie Wallraff struggled in the first inning. He allowed a leadoff single to Michael Mele and Untamed’s second hitter, Jack Burke, delivered a line drive off the left-field foul pole to give Untamed a 2-0 lead. Wallraff retired the next three batters, but Burke’s shot gave Untamed an early lead.

Untamed added to their lead in the bottom of the third inning, going up 5-0 after singles by Michael Mele, Jack Burke, and Daniel Cowles. Mele scored on a fielder's choice while Cowles brought Burke in on his single to left field. Nicolas Lorenzo drove in a third run in the inning on a ground ball to the shortstop.

The Cubs put together strong at-bats in the top of the fourth inning, fouling off pitches and putting runners on base. Kyler Shepherd singled off of Josh Cohen to start the inning, and Tyler Giordano then reached base on a walk to put runners on first and third with no outs. Shepherd scored on a wild pitch, just sneaking under Cohen’s tag. Giordano would also come around to score later in the inning after an errant throw from catcher Max Oswald who was trying to pick Giardano off of second base but instead threw the ball into center field.

Untamed’s defense rebounded in the top of the fifth inning as third baseman Nicolas Lorenzo made a nice play on a slow ground ball, and first baseman Daniel Cowles made a strong scoop. Later in the inning, left fielder Jack Burke threw out Ronnie Wallraf who was attempting to make it from first to third on a single down the left field line by Oliver Hernandez.

Ronnie Wallraff settled in for the Cubs after a shaky start, holding Untamed scoreless over his final two innings (the fourth and fifth innings). He ended the night going five innings and giving up five earned runs on seven hits while striking out six Untamed batters.

In the top of the sixth inning, after one run scored on an error, Untamed pitcher Max Sponheimer made a nice leaping grab on a chopper up the middle, preventing what likely would have been a two-run single and ending the inning.

Untamed responded with four runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth inning behind hits by Lorenzo, Sponheimer, and Mele, along with a well-executed bunt by Liam Royster.

The Cubs closed the gap to four in the top of the seventh inning after Untamed pitcher Christopher Langsdorf walked two batters and surrendered a two-run single to Tyler Giordano.

Zach DeGeorge replaced Langsdorf in the top of the eighth, attacking the zone early and cruising through the inning. DeGeorge, however, struggled in the top of the ninth inning as Untamed attempted to close the game out. Following an easy first out, DeGeorge gave up a single to Kyler Shepherd and walked Tyler Giordano. Zachary Saunders then brought both runners in with a double into the left-field gap. DeGeorge allowed one more run on a single by John Spallin before retiring Aaron Nieves to end the game. 

Untamed’s 9-8 victory brings their record to 3-10, while the loss brings the Cubs record to 2-10 on the season. Both teams will be in action on Thursday, June 22, with Untamed playing the Legends and the Cubs playing the Gamers.