Samantha Esque enters her second year with the Seahawks’ softball program after a decorated career as a pitcher at 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.
Esque led the CACC in wins, starts, complete games, shutouts, innings pitched and strikeouts. The opposition hit just .203 against her, which was the third lowest average against a hurler in the conference over the course of the season. Esque put together a string of three straight appearances where she limited the opposing lineup to just one hit in each game, including back-to-back starts versus Philadelphia University (March 31) and Felician (April 6). Esque was named to the All-CACC First Team as well.
Her 10 shutouts ranked fourth in NCAA Division II while her 0.62 walks allowed per seven innings were sixth overall. She owns Post’s school record in the category with 20 career shutouts.
As a junior, Esque turned in 13 complete-game performances, while also picking up one save. Her win total was the ninth highest in the CACC, while her save total and four shutouts were the fourth highest marks in the league, respectively. She posted a 10-5 record with a 0.96 ERA, which was the lowest mark in the conference during the regular season and third lowest in all of Division II during the regular season.
After graduating from Post University, Esque played a season professionally in Orebro, Sweden before beginning her coaching position at Wagner. While there, she travelled 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. Aside from her coaching duties, she will pursue her Master’s Degree in Business Administration at Wagner.
