OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Jake Johnson netted a hat trick, while Denzel Evans and Malcolm Klingbeil added two goals apiece, as Bates College took on #12 Amherst College Friday on day one of the Stevenson University Mustang Classic.

The Mammoths defeated the Bobcats, 15-8, in the NESCAC conference contest, keeping the garnet and white winless (0-4, 0-3 NESCAC) on the young season.

Amherst (2-1, 2-1 NESCAC) opened the game with a quick 3-0 advantage, and closed the initial period of play with a 4-1 lead. Coming out of intermission ahead by a margin of 7-3, the Mammoths accounted for three of the second half's first four goals to inflate its cushion to 10-4 with 14:22 remaining in regulation.

Bates connected for two of the next three scoring efforts to cut the deficit to five (11-6) with 8:58 left, but Amherst answered with an immediate 4-0 spurt to put the game out of reach for the Bobcats.

The victors owned the shot column with a 55-36 differential and a 26-20 edge on frame.

Jake Bennett paced the Mammoths with his four goals and three assists. Tanyr Krummenacher followed with three goals, two helpers, and a game-high 10 ground balls.

For Johnson (Jr.-Lake Forest Park, Wash.), his three goals marked a new single-game high for the Bates captain. For Evans (So.-Baltimore, Md.) and Klingbeil (Sr.-Powell, Ohio), Saturday's performance marked the the second two-tally showing for each this season.

Garrett FitzSimons (Sr.-Garden City, N.Y.) secured 11 saves for the Bobcats in the complete-game goalkeeping effort.

Bates closes the Mustang Classic Saturday afternoon at 1:15 p.m. with a non-conference tilt vs. #10 St. Lawrence University