During softball practice Tuesday, left-handed hitting Angela Danca took a running start in the batter’s box. Danca’s bat made contact with the ball, but the outfield caught the shallow pop up Danca had just hit.

Danca is one of three “slappers” on Eastern’s softball team, a key ingredient to the chemistry that the Panthers will use this weekend in a three-game series at Samford.

“(A slapper) will find any possible way to get on base: bunt, hard shot ground ball, shot off the fence,” said head coach Kim Schuette.

Like Danca, slap hitters are left-handed batters who have normally been converted from hitting right-handed, are usually quick and on-base percentage is more important than their batting average.

Along with Danca, outfielders Lauren Brackett and Megan Nelson make up the slap hitters in Schuette’s lineup.

“Their job is to get on base, steal and then let someone else drive them in,” Schuette said. “I firmly believe we need to put the ball in place, put pressure on defense, and let power hitters drive them in. I like to run and if those guys get on base, I’m able to run.”