COLLEGES:

As the attendance totals for the three-game baseball series with Cal State Fullerton over the weekend attest, ’Eater Nation is not merely a marketing term.

A program record 3,176 came out Friday night, while 2,608 were there for the beginning at least of the dramatic 12-inning victory Saturday that stirred memories of Omaha and the 2007 College World Series. Finally, 2,965 turned out Sunday for the Titans’ series-clinching 6-4 win.

But though they were strong in numbers, for the most part, the UCI rooters could have often been mistaken for a golf gallery.

UCI fans, who began waving blue and gold pom-poms on Saturday and Sunday, which added to their cause, cheered appropriately when the Anteaters scored, defended and pitched with aplomb.

But what UCI crowds must improve upon is generating a proactive approach that can inspire the home dugout and initiate more positives on the field.

There was a noticeably proactive moment late in Sunday’s game, when the crowd roared in anticipation of a 3-2 pitch to a Titans hitter with two outs and men on base.

But where were the “Ollie, Ollie, Ollie,” chants — heard first from fans at Omaha’s Rosenblatt Stadium, before UCI center fielder Ollie Linton singled in a run for a walk-off victory — when Linton was hitting (he drove in the tying run in the 12th Saturday), instead of after he scored the game-winning run (on Ben Orloff’s heroic single)?

There were, of course, no “Benny, Benny, Benny” chants either during Orloff’s crucial at-bat.

Rivals.com Baseball Editor Kendall Rogers, on hand to cover the series, was impressed by the number of folks (including hundreds of Fullerton fans) stretched out on the grassy hill that extends to the right-field foul pole. But Rogers, who travels the nation each season to try to keep tabs on the collegiate baseball landscape, said the energy level of this Southern California crowd was significantly lacking, compared to more rowdy gatherings that frequent ballparks of the Southeastern, Big 12 and even Atlantic Coast conferences.

What was anticipated to be an electric atmosphere for former coach Dave Serrano’s return, instead turned out to be largely unplugged.

Tradition, greater student-body participation and, in most cases larger facilities, have given the more established conferences a head start on Big West contenders such as UCI, which, in fairness, is in only its seventh season since bringing the program back.

But all it might take would be one consistent instigator to enliven the most apathetic Anteater backers. I’m not talking about Peter the Anteater, but, simply one fan, or perhaps a handful of fans, passionate enough to lead cheers and jeer those unwilling to comply. Someone is going to need to step forward and make it cool to stand and scream and emote, for no better reason than it might help the team.

It’s also hard for one school’s fandom to retain credibility when droves are seen exiting the ballpark as early as the seventh inning, even in a one-run game such as Saturday’s.

 The 3,176 at Friday’s series opener was not only the biggest home crowd since the program was renewed (figures before the nine-season hiatus are incomplete), it was bigger than any home crowd the men’s basketball team was able to generate in 14 dates this season.

The top single-game turnout for Coach Pat Douglass’ squad, which won all but one of its games on campus, was 3,173 against Cal State Northridge.

In 14 home dates, including one at the sub-1,000-capacity Crawford Court and one at the Anaheim Convention Center, men’s basketball averaged 1,771 spectators.

Through 12 home games (not counting the impromptu opener with LMU arranged the day before, for which no tickets were sold), UCI’s baseball team is averaging 1,619 per contest. That’s just 153 fewer fans per game than the Anteater athletic department’s “revenue” flagship.

 No official medical word yet on UCI freshman infielder Ryan Fisher, who left Friday night’s game with a foot injury Coach Mike Gillespie hoped was not a recurrence of a fracture that sidelined Fisher for weeks in January.

Fisher was seen wearing a protective boot Sunday and a prolonged absence would be a huge blow to the ’Eaters’ offense.

Fisher’s 28 RBIs lead the team and he is hitting .361 (second best) with two home runs and 20 runs.

 Orloff’s Saturday night heroics, as well as Fullerton’s series victory, might make for some interesting conversations between the junior shortstop and his brother Matt, a senior at Simi Valley High who has verbally committed to play at Cal State Fullerton next season.

“I’d like to think [Matt] is rooting for me,” Ben Orloff said before the series began.

Asked if he’d return the favor and root for the pin-striped Titans in future years, the elder Orloff paused slightly, before stating: “That is going to be tough, but I guess so.”

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at barry.faulkner@latimes.com.