A bottom of the fifth-inning meltdown at Scotland County has put the Pinecrest baseball team in the unaccustomed position of looking up in the league standings.

The Patriots dropped from first place to a tie for third in the Mid-Southeastern Conference after Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Scots. Three infield errors coupled with the wildness of pitcher Andrew MacDonald allowed the home team to wipe out a 2-0 advantage the Patriots gained in the top of the fifth.

Coach Jeff Hewitt's squad takes a 13-4 overall and 6-3 conference mark into tonight's 7 p.m. contest against 12-5 and 6-3, Richmond Senior. Hoke County and Scotland, both 7-2, share first place.

"I didn't like our intensity tonight," Pinecrest coach Jeff Hewitt said afterward. "Knowing this was our most important game of the year, we were very quiet in the dugout."

With three straight one-run victories over the Scots, the Pats may have had more confidence, but the Scots were hungrier.

Pinecrest drew first blood in a tense pitching dual between MacDonald and Scotlands' Curt Britt in the top of the fifth.

A one-out single to right field by Patrick Moore got things started. A sacrifice bunt by MacDonald, an infield hit by Dillon Maples and a walk to Taylor MacDonald brought Trent Fredericks to bat with the bases full.

The Patriot catcher hit a bouncer up the middle that Scot shortstop Kevin Norton appeared ready to grab and step on the bag at second base for the force play that would end the inning. But, the ball took a crazy hop and went into center field as two runs crossed the plate.

Andrew MacDonald had not allowed a base hit in 17 innings, covering four games, when he took the mound in the bottom of the fifth. But five walks and two hit batters through the first four innings forced him to pitch out of constant trouble.

Norton broke up the no-hit streak with a double down the right field line. MacDonald then struck out Cody Marcure before the roof caved in for the Patriots.

An errant throw by second baseman Ethan Klingenschmidt on a ground ball hit by Phillip Williams put two runners aboard. Norton scored on a wild pitch making it 2-1. After MacDonald issued his sixth and seventh walks to load the bases, first baseman Joey Grady bobbled a squeeze bunt by Travis Walters and was unable to get an out as the tying run scored.

Taylor MacDonald relieved his brother and struck out the next batter. But, what turned out to be the winning run scored on a throwing error by shortstop Maples.

"I thought we got tight," Hewitt said. "We talk about when we get in these kind of situations, we can't speed the game up relax and make the plays. We didn't do that on three consecutive plays. We let them get right back in the ball game."

Pitching in relief of Britt, Ryan Pierce shut the Patriots down over the final two innings. Andrew MacDonald was able to get as far as third base with two outs in the bottom of the seventh before the Scot pitcher fanned Fredericks to end the game.

Scotland coach Tommy Britt knows that both teams are going to face a tough road with four teams within a game of the top spot and several others capable of pulling upsets.

"We'll face everybody's No. 1 (pitcher) just like Pinecrest will face everybody's No.1," Scot coach Tommy Britt said. "I was real proud of our kids for not giving up and winning a tight game."

The Patriots ended up with six hits to just one for the Scots. For Hewitt's squad, facing the pitching aces of the other teams probably means Richmond Senior's Ricky Holden (5-1) tonight followed by Ronald Womack (5-0) at Hoke County on Tuesday.

"We have to prove that we can win a big game and we haven't done that," Hewitt said.

R H E

Pinecrest 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 6 3

Scotland 0 0 0 0 3 0 - 3 1 2

A. MacDonald, T. MacDonald (5) and Fredericks; Britt, Pierce (5) and Walker. WP Pierce LP- A. MacDonald (6-1). Leading hitters (P) Maples 2-4, Fredeicks 1-4, 2 RBI (S) Norton 1-4, DB.