The Pinecrest baseball team's stay in sole possession of first place in the Mid-Southeastern Conference lasted just 24 hours.

Douglas Byrd scored two runs in the top of a mistake-filled eighth inning to earn a 3-1 win and knock the Patriots back into a four-way tie for first atop the conference standings. The loss ended a six-game win streak for the Patriots (11-2, 6-2).

The Patriots arrived at the top spot after Scotland County defeated Richmond Senior 3-2 on Tuesday. Coach Jeff Hewitt's squad now shares first with Richmond, Scotland and Hoke Counties.

Hewitt didn't mince words on his feelings about his team's shoddy performance that included numerous errors of commission and omission against the underdog Eagles, now 6-6 and 3-5. For him, it was a matter of a team not being able to handle its recent success.

"I couldn't do anything with the kids -- couldn't get them excited about playing," Hewitt said afterward. "We tried to talk to them about conference championships -- they wouldn't hear anything about it. Let's be honest. The kids didn't want it."

Eagle starting pitcher Danny Fischer led off the game with an infield single. The first of four batters struck by Patriot pitcher Dillon Maples in the game, a passed ball, and a base hit by Trevor Huggins gave the visitors a first-inning run. The Patriots tied it up in the fourth when Joe Herbert singled home Taylor MacDonald.

Even though he walked only one batter while striking out 14 in 6 1/3 innings, Maples struggled with his control all night. Taking the place of the injured Trent Fredericks behind the plate, James Baldwin had problems handling the sophomore right-hander's dynamic stuff. Baldwin, normally an outfielder, was playing behind the plate for the first time since last summer.

Passed balls contributed to sixth- and seventh-inning jams for Maples, but the Patriots escaped. The home team had its best chance to end things in regulation in the bottom of the sixth.

Walks to Maples and MacDonald put runners on first and second with one out. Pitching in relief of Fischer, Anthony McNutt struck out Joey Grady. Joe Herbert then singled sharply to right field. McNutt took the relay and spun to the ground as he threw to catcher Chris Zavala, nipping pinch runner Brian Smith.

Zach Christian came in for Maples to get the final out of the seventh inning with runners on second and third. The top of the eighth was nightmarish.

The speedy McNutt legged out a hit on what appeared to be a routine ground ball to the right side of the infield. He was on third with one out after a passed ball and a well-executed sacrifice bunt.

The Patriots appeared to be

two-thirds of the way out of trouble when McNutt got caught in a pickle between third and home.

But he escaped. McNutt then scored the go-ahead run as Huggins was being thrown out at first to complete a strikeout. Moments later Huggins scored from third when the return throw from an out recorded at first was late and off line.

A walk to Grady put the tying run aboard with two out in the bottom half. But McNutt fanned Herbert for his seventh strikeout in three innings.

"In a couple of key situations, we had some people that were nervous," Hewitt said. "I love the kids. I'm disappointed in the effort tonight."

Andrew MacDonald and Herbert combined for four of the five Patriot hits. The Eagles finished with four off Maples and Christian. For the second game in a row, Patriot pitchers recorded 16 strikeouts.

The No. 2 ranked Patriots (Impact Baseball 4A poll) travel to Greenville for their Hot Stove Tournament opener against Northern Durham on Saturday.

On Monday they face Eastern Wayne, the No. 1 team in 3A. They meet J.H Rose, the No. 6 team in 4A, on Tuesday.