Angela Danca, Megan Nelson and Lauren Brackett’s main job is to get on base and score runs.

All three aren’t looked at to drive in runs, because all three are left-handed slap hitters who try to use their speed to their advantage.

Brackett, a freshman outfielder from Aurora, leads the team in hitting (.375) and also has a stolen base.

Danca, a sophomore outfielder from Naperville, is close to matching her last season total of five RBIs. She already has four RBIs this year and is hitting .286. Last year, she finished the year hitting .203.

Nelson, a freshman from Normal, has filled in for the injured Chelsy Iapala in center field. Nelson has only hit .237, primarily out of the leadoff spot, but has five RBIs and leads the team with four stolen bases.

“Their job is to make the defense nervous and then get on base so they can steal and score runs,” said Eastern head coach Kim Schuette.

Schuette said the key statistic she looks at with those three is on-base percentage.

Brackett leads all starters with a .412 on-base percentage, while Danca’s on-base percentage is .333 and Nelson’s is .275.

On-base percentage is figured by the number of hits, and also how many times a player can get on base either by an error, a walk or being hit by a pitch.

Coppert second on team in RBIs

Second baseman Sarah Coppert has picked up the run-producing slack at the No. 2 spot in the lineup.

The sophomore from Maple Park had 14 RBIs last year after starting 52 games. This year, Coppert is second on the team with eight RBIs through the Panthers’ first 11 games.

“Sarah has matured definitely from last year. And her work ethic is very much improved,” Schuette said. “She’s always been very talented, but now she’s trying to take a little bit more leadership.”

Coppert is also second on the team in doubles (four) and has a .297 batting average.

Iapala cleared to play again

The sophomore from Stanwood, Wash., has been limited the entire season because of a right shoulder injury.

But now, Iapala is cleared to play again, Schuette said.

Iapala was fully cleared Thursday, but Schuette said the competition in the outfield doesn’t guarantee Iapala a return to the starting lineup. Last year, Iapala started 50 times.

“It’s probably our hardest spot to get in,” Schuette said. “We’ll just have to see how practice goes the next few days.”

Team to leave Thursday morning for California

Eastern leaves Charleston Thursday morning at 1 a.m. in order to travel to San Jose, Calif., to compete in the National Invitational Tournament, starting Friday.

The team will bus from Charleston to Indianapolis, with the team’s scheduled flight set to leave at 5 a.m., Schuette said.

The team will fly from Indianapolis to Chicago, then from Chicago to San Francisco.

The Panthers have six games in three days this upcoming weekend, including a game against national power California.

The Golden Bears are currently ranked 18th in the nation.

Eastern also added a game during its stay in California, with the Panthers playing Iowa State on Sunday in San Jose.

The Panthers will also play Saint Mary’s (Calif.) in a game next Tuesday at Moraga, Calif.

Schuette said the team will use its off day on Monday to tour San Francisco, including landmarks like Fisherman’s Wharf and Alcatraz, the former federal prison near San Francisco.