University of Hartford

Samantha Esque enters her second season after joining the Hartford Softball coaching staff in September 2017. The pitching coach joined the Hawks after spending the previous year under Hawks head coach Angie Churchill at Wagner.
 
In her first season with the Hawks, Esque guided the Hawks to the most wins (10) since the 2013 season. The pitching staff finished the year with 104 strike outs and nine complete games.
 
Before Hartford, she led the Seahawks pitching staff to 16 complete games and four shutouts in 2017. Top pitcher McKaleigh Goodale showed strong improvement throughout the season, allowing three earned runs or fewer in 17 of her last 18 appearances.
 
Prior to her coaching career, Esque was a standout pitcher for Post University. As a two-year captain for the Eagles, Esque was named CACC Pitcher of the Year in 2015 and 2016, DII CAA East Region Pitcher of the Year in 2016 and earned a spot on the All-ECAC Team in 2016. 
 
As a senior, the Springfield, Pa., native was 19-7 with a pair of saves in 31 appearances, including 23 starts in 2016. Esque posted a 1.33 ERA over 178.2 innings of work, while also striking out 149 batters compared to just 15 walks. Her 10 shutouts ranked fourth in NCAA Division II, and she owns Post’s school record in the category with 20 career shutouts. 
 
After graduating from Post, Esque played a season professionally in Orebro, Sweden. While there, she traveled the country running youth pitching clinics and being an ambassador for the sport.
 
Esque also excelled in the classroom and was voted to the CoSIDA Academic All-District team in 2016. She received her bachelor’s degree in sport management from Post in 2016.