SAN DIEGO – Center fielder Rashad Taylor snapped a 1-1 tie with a two-run home run in the seventh inning to lift NAIA No. 8-ranked Point Loma Nazarene to a 4-1 non-conference win over visiting Cal State San Marcos Tuesday at Carroll B. Land Stadium.

DH Scott Stidham led off the seventh with a single up the middle. Taylor then drove a 1-2 pitch from Brett Miller over the wall in center to give the Sea Lions a 3-1 advantage. PLNU tacked on an insurance run later in the frame when second baseman Tyler Kuehl singled home shortstop Clinton Harwick.

Picking up the win with a one-inning relief stint was Josh Dexheimer (1-0). The PLNU lefty took the mound after starter Brett Carlile went six solid frames in which he surrendered just one run on three hits. Maurice Wilhelm earned the win by shutting out the Cougars in the eighth and ninth.

Miller was hung with the loss after he gave up three runs in two-thirds of an inning. Starter Abarham Torres went six solid innings, yielding just one run and like his counterpart was not involved in the decision.

PLNU struck first with a run in the second. Taylor reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and came home on a RBI hit from leftfielder Kendall Konopka.

CSUSM evened the score by pushing across a run in the sixth when left fielder Kyle Parks hit a sac fly that plated second baseman Trent Jemmett.

The Sea Lions, which improved to 5-2 with the win, had just seven hits, two by right fielder Jack Diamond.

The Cougars dropped to 6-5 and are on a four-game losing skid.

PLNU takes some time off before starting conference play when Biola comes to town for a 2:00 pm game next Wednesday.