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Here's more from Esquer:

Stanford head coach David Esquer liked the situation. Will Matthiessen’s two-run homer had tied the score 5-5 in the ninth inning of the regular-season finale at Washington on Saturday.

Later in the inning, the Cardinal had the bases loaded with two outs.

“If it had to come down to this,” Esquer said he was thinking. “I’m completely happy with whatever happens.”

That’s because Nico Hoerner was at the plate. The junior shortstop is expected to be a high pick in next week’s MLB draft not just because of his .349 average and his slick fielding. It’s because of his will to succeed.

Sure enough, he beat out a slow roller to third base, and the decisive run scored in a 6-5 win that gave the Cardinal their first Pac-12 title since 2004.

“Nobody wants to win as much for the team as much as Nico does,” Esquer said. “I’ve had a lot of great players but haven’t had as good a team player who was really willing to accept all his personal results with the one focus being on: ‘I just want this team to win as many games as possible and do what I can to help them win.’”