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HENDERSON, Nevada -- The Portland State softball team split a pair of games at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic on Friday, opening with a 9-5 victory over Cal State Northridge, before falling 3-1 in eight innings to No. 18/19 Stanford.

Crysta Conn and Lacey Holm each hit a three-run home run and tallied four RBIs in all to lead the Vikings in their opener against the Matadors.

Holm staked Portland State to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, belting her second home run of the season over the left field fence. Holm also had a pinch-hit home run against the Matadors on Feb. 13 in PSU's last outing, giving her back-to-back homers against the Big West Conference school.

Cal State Northridge responded with a four-run second inning, getting three runs on a Tracey Allen home run. The Matadors' lead didn't last long, though, as Conn hit a three-run shot in the top of the third, putting the Vikings up 6-4.

In the fourth, Conn made it 7-5 on a sacrifice fly to center field with the bases loaded and PSU later added an unearned run to go up by three. The Vikings closed out the scoring in the seventh when Holm drew a bases-loaded walk.

Conn, Holm and Jenna Krogh each had two hits as PSU finished with eight in all.

Nichole Latham (2-1) got the win in relief, scattering four hits over the final five innings. The senior righty allowed just one earned run, struck out three and didn't walk a batter.

Hannah Fraijo took the loss for the Matadors, giving up five hits and five runs in just two innings.

Latham came right back in the afternoon against one of the nation's top teams, holding a potent Cardinal offense scoreless over the first four innings. Just hours earlier, the Cardinal pounded out 19 hits in defeating Utah State, 18-10.

PSU opened the scoring in the bottom of the first and led 1-0 through four innings of play. Krogh started off PSU's first turn at bat with a double down the left field line, Arielle Wiser moved her over to third on a sac bunt and then Sadie Lopez singled back up the middle, plating Krogh.

Latham kept Stanford off the board until the fifth when Daneille Miller doubled home Jenna Rich.

The game remained tied 1-1 through seven and the eighth inning starting under international tie-breaker rules with a runner being placed at second. Stanford scored twice in their half of the inning, while Portland State wasn't able to rally.

It was still an excellent performance for the Vikings, who a week earlier rallied in the eighth to knock off No. 16 BYU, 4-3, in eight innings.

Latham suffered the loss, giving up eight hits and two earned runs in a complete-game effort.

"It was a well-played game and Nichole pitched one heck of a ball game," said PSU Head Coach Tobin Echo-Hawk. "Her pitches were on today. Her screwball was working effectively and you could tell she was frustrating their hitters."

Teagan Gearhart (3-1) got the victory, going the distance and giving up five hits and no walks with nike strikeouts.

Holm led the Vikings at the plate, going 2-for-3, while Maya Burns had two hits for Stanford (6-1).

Portland State (4-4) plays twice tomorrow in Henderson, starting at 9 a.m. against Nevada. They then take on top-ranked and defending national champion UCLA at 3:45 p.m. Both games can be heard on GoViks.com and live stats will also be available. Heavy rain is forecast for tonight and tomorrow so there is a good chance the games will either be rained out or delayed. Check GoViks.com for updates.

NOTES: PSU played both teams last weekend in Tempe. The Viks lost to CSUN, 4-3, last Sunday, and 12-4 to Stanford last Saturday ... Holm is 7-for-11 with eight RBIs over the last six games. She leads the team with a .533 batting average and nine runs driven in ... Holm and Krogh both have five-game hitting streaks going.