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The ����ԭ�� baseball team fell to the Air Force Academy 9-4 on March 25, but the game was still a win for fans at Nischwitz Stadium.

The Stars, Stripes, Flight Classic celebrated the region’s veterans and active-duty military personnel. It featured a T-shirt giveaway and a special joint first pitch by ����ԭ�� President Sue Edwards and Col. Dustin Richards, commander of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

“We just always want to show our appreciation for the armed forces and our military and appreciate everything they do, so when they come to town, we want to make them feel special,” said Joylynn Brown, ����ԭ��’s director of athletics.

This was the eighth all-time meeting between the two baseball programs, with ����ԭ�� having won each of the prior seven ballgames. The two sides met in a three-game series at The Nisch in March 2006 before the Raiders traveled to Colorado for a four-game series at Air Force in March 2007.

The inaugural game in the Stars, Stripes, Flight Classic attracted 9,672 basketball fans to the ����ԭ�� Nutter Center on Nov. 30 to watch the Raiders defeat the Air Force Falcons 70-54.

“I think it’s a good way for the ����ԭ�� fans to interact with Air Force fans,” said Nathan Garcia, an Air Force Academy alumnus who lives in Dayton.

Fans can bid on the special military jerseys worn by the ����ԭ�� baseball team, which are available for until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 30.

In addition to the game-worn military jerseys from Tuesday’s contest, fans can purchase official Raidergang sweatshirts and bid on an in-game experience when ����ԭ�� plays Ohio State on April 15 in Columbus.

The Raiders will next host Youngstown State for a three-game series from Friday, March 28, to Sunday, March 30. Game one will stream on ESPN+ while all three games will have live stats provided.