Softball

Meet the Heat • Tairia Flowers • Utility

Born: Jan. 9, 1981 College: UCLA Height: 5-7 Bats/Throws: R/R Experience: Has played for four U.S. national teams and won four gold medals with those teams, including the 2004 Olympic team. 2005 Stats: Flowers is hitting .286 in nine games this season and is second on the team with 10 RBIs. Notable: Started all 252 games in four years at UCLA as Tairia Mims. She reached the Women's College World Series all four years and won a national title in 2003. She finished with a .373 average and 61 home runs. … A graduate of Salpointe Catholic High School, she is married to former UCLA basketball player Jason Flowers and graduated last weekend from UCLA. Flowers will be available for autographs at 6:45 tonight on the first-base side near the Heat dugout.